The 3rd Cavista Technologies Hackathon, held at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) on February 22nd and 23rd, 2025, was a spectacle of intellect, creativity, and absolute coding determination. 

Team Stark Underflow emerged as the winner, taking the grand prize of N2 million after an intense battle against 29 other teams, comprising over 100 students from leading institutions in Lagos.

The prize money wasn’t the only catch, as the event reiterated that automation is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day innovation. 

With the theme ‘Smart Automation: Enhancing Care Through Integrated Systems,’ participants were challenged to develop real-world solutions that could boost efficiency in industries ranging from healthcare to financial services.

The hackathon was graced by the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who stressed the importance of continuous technological advancement in Nigeria.

“We remain committed to building an ecosystem to support technology through collaboration. In furtherance to this, we will launch a new platform that will enable young people to learn new skills and collaborate with private organizations because technology is driving almost everything we do,” he stated.

He further noted that automation has indeed become a key driver of services in Nigeria, urging young people to harness their creativity and innovative determination with the power of collaboration to make a solid impact. 

“Let the hackathon not just be a competition but a platform for solutions that will shape the future of a smart automation process in Nigeria and beyond,” he added. 

“The tech industry isn’t just about writing lines of code; it’s about solving problems. You don’t work in isolation. Collaboration is everything.”

The General Manager of Cavista Technologies, Oyebola Morakinyo, also urged students to leverage innovation without fear of failure: “At Cavista Technologies, our vision is to be the most innovative and respected solutions provider in the market. We provide services that drive transformation, enhance efficiency, and position organizations to lead in the future by leveraging our team of skilled engineers and industry experts. This is why we are here—to push boundaries and discover the next set of engineers to impact our community.”

The hackathon didn’t just bring young minds to focus on coding, it also included learnings about strategy, teamwork, and market viability. A key takeaway? “You must know what the business strategy is, the product you’re building, and what value it delivers. Technical skills are important, but understanding how to sell your solution is just as critical.”

The Winners: Innovation and Practicality

The high point of the event was the announcement of the winners:

• 1st Place: Team Stark Underflow (LASUSTECH) – ₦2,000,000
• 2nd Place: Team Trendsetters (UNILAG) – ₦1,000,000
• 3rd Place: Team TechStars (UNILAG) – ₦500,000

Beyond cash prizes, all participants walked away with mentorship opportunities, networking access, and career-defining collaborations to help them grow and thrive even more in the technology sector. 

As a flagship initiative of Cavista Technologies, a global leader in technology solutions and development services, the hackathon reflects the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing tech talent. 

With a team of engineers and industry experts, Cavista Technologies is focused on delivering cutting-edge technology solutions that streamline processes and accelerate project delivery.

With a presence across multiple continents, Cavista is focused on building the next generation of engineers with the skills and opportunities to innovate, disrupt, and lead.

Ogundipe made this assertion on Friday, at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu.

He spoke during the inaugural founder’s day lecture of the institution, with the theme “Nation Building Through Innovation, Science and Technology”

The former vice chancellor said that nations carried out such investment to bolster their defense technology and security apparatus.

“Defense technology innovation improves a country’s capacity to handle security issues and safeguard its population.

“Innovation and technology can be very important in improving a country’s internal security.

“It helps to create strategies, technologies, and policies that are effective in addressing changing security issues.

“Countries that invest in science, innovation, and technology are often ahead of those that do not invest or rather invests poorly.

“When we talk about nation-building, we take into account several factors, all of which are now influenced by science, innovation, and technology,”Ogundipe said.

He added that important facets of how innovation and research contribute to Nigeria’s internal security include analysis and intelligence gathering, technology adoption and surveillance, cybersecurity measures.

Others, according to him, are border security and cross-border cooperation, conflict resolution and peace building, training and skill development, and public awareness and education.

“No other country can help us. We need to help ourselves to invest in our security.

“A country’s ability to innovate and use technological advancements is closely linked to its economic development,” Ogundipe said.

He noted that innovation, science, and technology play a critical role in the development of infrastructure, influencing how societies organise, construct, and oversee vital organisational and physical structures.

“These components play a major role in the progress, effectiveness, and sustainability of infrastructure projects in a variety of industries.

“Innovation is a key factor in economic growth, frequently resulting from advances in science and technology.

“New industries are encouraged to emerge through investments in technology and innovation.

“In addition to producing highly skilled jobs, the expansion of industries like biotechnology, clean energy, and information technology also supports ancillary businesses, which boosts overall employment and economic diversification,”Ogundipe said.

He said that beyond the sphere of the economy, science and technology had the capacity to significantly impact social progress and inclusivity.

“Nations can harness the transformative power of innovation to build resilient and prosperous societies by adopting a future-oriented mindset, allocating resources to education and research, and responsibly navigating the challenges.

“Let’s set out on a journey together where innovation serves as the cornerstone for building a nation and moves us closer to a more promising and inclusive future,”Ogundipe said.

Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Vice-Chancellor, LASUSTECH, said the founder’s day lecture was to share with the larger society the institution’s achievements and impact in fulfilling our mandate.

Odusanya said that their goal remained to become a highly competitive, much sought, globally acclaimed and world class university.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 67 students with 4.50 CGPA were given 50 per cent scholarship of their tuition fees.

The LASUSTECH vice chancellor also gave one million naira to the best male and female students from Epe.

Prof. Adebisi Balogun, former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, also gave the sum of N75,000 to the best students each in the five faculties of the institution.