Young Nigerian innovators, technology enthusiasts, developers and startup founders have an opportunity to compete for ₦5 million in cash prizes through the Ogun Digital Summit 2026 Hackathon.
The competition is designed to support individuals and teams developing innovative technology solutions to real-life problems affecting businesses, communities and different sectors of the economy.
Organised as part of the Ogun Digital Summit 2026, the hackathon will bring together talented individuals with ideas in education, financial technology, healthcare, agriculture, real estate and artificial intelligence.
Selected teams will have an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their solutions, receive mentorship and compete for a share of the ₦5 million prize pool.
If you have a technology-driven idea or are already working on a startup product, this could be an opportunity to showcase your innovation and gain support to take it further.
Here is everything you need to know about the Ogun Digital Summit 2026 Hackathon, including the available prizes, eligibility requirements, competition categories and how to apply.
The Ogun Digital Summit 2026 Hackathon is a technology innovation competition aimed at identifying and supporting practical solutions to challenges across Nigeria and Africa.
The programme brings together developers, designers, product managers, entrepreneurs, students and other professionals to work on technology-based solutions.
Unlike competitions that focus mainly on business ideas or presentations, participants are expected to develop working prototypes that demonstrate how their proposed solutions will address specific problems.
The hackathon is part of the seventh edition of the Ogun Digital Summit, an event that brings together technology professionals, startup founders, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders in the digital economy.
Shortlisted teams will participate in build activities and mentorship before presenting their solutions at the physical showcase scheduled for November 2026.
The Ogun Digital Summit 2026 Hackathon offers a combined cash prize of ₦5 million to the top three teams.
The prize distribution is as follows:
First Place: ₦2,500,000
Second Place: ₦1,500,000
Third Place: ₦1,000,000
In addition to the cash prizes, winning teams will also have access to other forms of support designed to help them develop their technology products and businesses.
These include:
Cloud computing credits.
Zoho credits.
Workspace opportunities.
An eight-week mentorship programme.
The additional support is intended to help promising teams improve their products, strengthen their business models and explore opportunities for further growth.
Applicants are expected to develop solutions under one of the six available technology tracks.
Here are the categories and the types of innovations welcomed.
This category focuses on technology solutions that improve access to quality education and skills development.
Participants can develop platforms and digital tools that make learning more accessible, improve educational delivery or help people acquire relevant skills.
The FinTech category welcomes innovations that improve access to financial services.
Potential areas include:
Digital payment solutions.
Financial inclusion platforms.
Banking solutions for underserved communities.
Affordable credit access.
Technology that improves financial services for small businesses.
This category is for technology solutions that address challenges in the property and real estate industry.
Ideas may focus on improving property ownership, housing access, property management and real estate services.
Participants interested in improving healthcare delivery can apply under this category.
Solutions may include digital healthcare platforms, remote medical consultation services, technology-assisted diagnosis and other innovations that improve access to healthcare.
This track focuses on technology that can improve agricultural productivity and food security.
Applicants can develop solutions that support farmers, improve food distribution, strengthen agricultural supply chains or make farming more efficient.
This category welcomes AI-powered products and machine learning solutions designed to solve practical problems.
Participants can explore how artificial intelligence can improve business operations, public services, productivity and other areas of everyday life.
The competition is open to individuals with relevant interests, skills and ideas in technology and innovation.
Eligible participants include:
Students of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Early-career technology professionals.
Experienced technology professionals.
Startup founders and entrepreneurs with early-stage ideas.
Software developers and designers.
Product managers and data professionals.
Domain experts who can contribute to technology development.
Applicants are required to participate in teams rather than as individuals.
Before applying, interested participants should understand the competition's team requirements.
The organisers have specified the following:
Each team must consist of 2 to 5 members.
Every team must have a team name.
Each team must appoint one member as its team leader.
Each participant can belong to only one team.
Teams are encouraged to have members with different professional and technical skills.
A cross-functional team may include developers, designers, business professionals and people with knowledge of the particular problem the team intends to solve.
Having a good idea is important, but participants must also demonstrate that their proposed solutions are practical and capable of making a difference.
The judging process will consider the following areas:
1. Problem identification: Teams should clearly explain the problem they intend to solve and provide credible evidence or user insights.
2. Originality and practicality: The proposed solution should be innovative, realistic and relevant to the needs of its intended users.
3. Working prototype: Participants should demonstrate a working prototype that shows the main features of their product.
4. Impact and sustainability: Judges will consider the potential impact of the solution, its adoption prospects and whether it can remain sustainable over time.
5. Team capability: Teams should understand their products and be able to explain their technical decisions, business approach and plans for further development.
Beyond the opportunity to compete for ₦5 million, participating in the hackathon can provide other valuable opportunities for innovators and startup founders.
Some of the potential benefits include:
Access to funding: The top three teams will share ₦5 million in cash prizes.
Mentorship: Winning teams will receive an eight-week mentorship opportunity.
Technology resources: Additional support includes cloud computing and Zoho credits.
Workspace opportunities: Successful teams can access workspace support.
Product development: Participants can improve their ideas by developing and demonstrating working prototypes.
Networking: The competition provides an opportunity to connect with other innovators and technology professionals.
These opportunities can help early-stage founders and technology enthusiasts take their ideas beyond the planning stage.
Interested and eligible participants can register their teams through the official hackathon application portal.
Follow these steps to apply:
Form a team consisting of two to five members.
Choose a team name and appoint a team leader.
Visit the official Ogun Digital Summit Hackathon registration portal.
Complete the application form with the required team information.
Select or identify the problem your proposed technology solution will address.
Explain who is affected by the problem and how your proposed product will provide a solution.
Review your application details and submit the form.
Shortlisted teams will receive further information about the next stages, including build activities, mentorship and the physical showcase.
Official Registration Link: https://www.ogundigitalsummit.com/hackathon
Applications for the Ogun Digital Summit 2026 Hackathon are currently open.
However, as of the time of writing, the organisers have not clearly published a specific application closing date on the available official application information.
Interested applicants are advised to visit the official registration portal and confirm the application deadline before submitting their entries.
The hackathon showcase is scheduled for 25 November 2026.
The hackathon and the main summit will take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Here are the important event details:
Hackathon Date: 25 November 2026.
Hackathon Venue: Ogun Tech Hub, Kobape, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Main Summit Dates: 25–27 November 2026.
Hackathon Prize Pool: ₦5 million.
The Ogun Digital Summit 2026 Hackathon presents an opportunity for Nigerian students, developers, entrepreneurs and technology professionals to showcase their creativity and develop solutions to real-world challenges.
With ₦5 million in cash prizes, mentorship, technology credits and workspace opportunities, the competition offers more than just financial rewards.
If you have a promising technology idea or belong to a team working on an innovative product, consider applying before the organisers close registration.
To get started, visit the official application portal below: