Team ByteBros from Lagos State University (LASU) won the top prize at the 4th Cavista Technologies Hackathon on Sunday, outperforming 46 teams and 200 students from five tertiary institutions across Lagos.
The team received ₦2 million for their innovative solution, designed under this year’s theme: “From Data to Prevention: AI as Your Health Partner.”
The hackathon, now in its fourth edition, saw participation from Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Yaba College of Technology (YabaTech), Pan-Atlantic University, and the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The top 10 teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges, with awards distributed across the first five places.
Team Mannalon from Pan-Atlantic University took second place with ₦1 million, while Team Nibbles from LASUSTECH came third, receiving ₦500,000.
Fourth and fifth place winners were awarded ₦400,000 each, courtesy of Cavista Holdings Chairman, Niyi John Olajide.
In her opening remarks, Oyebola Morakinyo, general manager of Cavista Technologies, encouraged participants to push boundaries.
She said, “With technology evolving almost at the speed of light, hackathons remind us why pushing boundaries matters. We are not here just to host a competition, but to create a space for the visionaries who will define tomorrow.”
Morakinyo also reiterated Cavista’s focus on nurturing talent. “We always want to hire the best and the brightest. We want to ensure that talent is available here at Cavista Tech, talent that embodies our innovative corporate values and has the confidence to take on challenges anywhere in the industry.”
Delivering her message via the event’s jumbo screen, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, commended Cavista Technologies for enabling innovation and youth-led problem solving.
She said the hackathon empowers young Nigerians to transform their skills into solutions that drive economic growth and strengthen the nation’s creative ecosystem.
Participants tackled real-life issues through AI-powered preventive health solutions. Several teams developed apps, tools, and platforms aimed at monitoring health and predicting potential risks.
Beyond prizes, participants benefited from mentorship, networking opportunities, and exposure to the technology ecosystem. Special category awards were sponsored by event partners, including Fearless Energy Drink, Mouka Foam, Rite Foods, and Rack Centre.
The event stressed Cavista Technologies’ goal of cultivating the next generation of tech talent in Nigeria and providing pathways for innovation and career growth.
During a post-event interview, Oyebola Morakinyo spoke on the role of hackathons in skill development.
She said AI does not replace engineers but “multiplies the skill sets of human beings,” helping them remain relevant.
On retaining talent in Nigeria, she added, “One of the first things we are doing is we are giving them a voice. We’re engaging them, we’re making them relevant, we’re building their confidence, and we’re telling them that your knowledge, your skill set, is valid, not just locally, but on the world stage.”
Morakinyo also stressed the importance of innovation as a mindset rather than a department. “Innovation is how we operate every day, it’s how we deliver all our work,” she said. “We are preparing talents that are well-equipped, ready to enter the workforce with a problem-solving mindset and an ownership mindset.”
The 4th hackathon aligns with Cavista Technologies’ long-term strategy of investing in youth and technology.
With engineers and specialists across multiple continents, the company is providing state-of-the-art solutions while cultivating local talent in Nigeria’s tech sector.
