The November 25 competition will reward the top three teams with cash prizes and offer winners mentorship, cloud computing credits and workspace opportunities to help develop their products.

Young Nigerian developers, designers and entrepreneurs have an opportunity to turn their ideas into practical technology products as the Ogun Digital Summit opens applications for its 2026 hackathon, with ₦5 million in total prize money up for grabs.

The competition will award ₦2.5 million to the first-place team, ₦1.5 million to the second-place team and ₦1 million to the third-place team.

Beyond the financial rewards, winners will receive cloud computing credits, Zoho credits, workspace opportunities and an eight-week mentorship programme to support further product development.

Hackathon to Focus on Six Technology Areas

The hackathon is part of the 2026 Ogun Digital Summit, scheduled for November 25–27 in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The competition will take place on November 25 at Ogun Tech Hub in Kobape.

Participants will develop solutions in six areas:

  • Financial technology: Improving access to financial services and digital payments.

  • Education technology: Addressing challenges in learning and educational access.

  • Property technology and real estate: Developing solutions for housing and property services.

  • Healthcare and telemedicine: Making healthcare services more accessible and efficient.

  • Agricultural technology and food security: Tackling challenges in farming, food distribution and supply chains.

  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning: Applying AI to practical problems affecting businesses and communities.

The organisers aim to give emerging innovators a platform to demonstrate their skills while developing solutions to real-world challenges.

How the ₦5 Million Prize Pool Will Be Shared

The three highest-performing teams will receive the following cash prizes:

Position                                                Cash prize
First place₦2,500,000
Second place₦1,500,000
Third place₦1,000,000
Total₦5,000,000

Successful teams will also receive additional support, including technology credits, workspace opportunities and eight weeks of mentorship. These resources could help teams refine their prototypes and continue developing their products after the event.

What Will Judges Look For?

Participants will need to demonstrate more than an interesting idea. According to the information provided about the competition, judging will consider the problem being addressed, the originality of the proposed solution, the functionality of the prototype and its potential for adoption and long-term sustainability.

This means teams should focus on identifying a clear problem, building a working solution and explaining how their product could attract users and remain viable beyond the hackathon.

Who Can Apply?

The competition is open to students from universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, alongside technology professionals, startup founders and entrepreneurs.

Applicants must form teams of two to five members, designate a team lead and submit information about their proposed solutions through the official application process.

Interested participants can review the requirements and apply through the official Ogun Digital Summit hackathon website.

The hackathon application is separate from registration for the wider summit. Applicants should check the official website for the current application deadline, eligibility conditions and submission instructions.

Creating More Opportunities for Young Tech Talent

The hackathon is intended to help young innovators access resources, professional networks and development opportunities that can be difficult to secure outside established technology hubs.

Summit convener Victor Adeleye has highlighted these challenges for young technology talents beyond Lagos. By connecting participants with mentors, technical resources and other industry stakeholders, the initiative aims to give emerging innovators a platform to showcase their work and pursue further development.

Running since 2020, the Ogun Digital Summit brings together technology professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders. Its 2026 programme will feature innovation showcases, conference sessions and networking opportunities focused on Nigeria's digital economy.

For aspiring founders and developers, the competition offers an opportunity to test ideas, build prototypes and potentially take an early-stage product closer to market.

Have a tech idea that could solve a real problem in Nigeria? Explore the eligibility requirements and apply through the official hackathon website.