Applications are now open for the GTCO Squad Hackathon 3.0, a national innovation competition designed for university students in Nigeria.
This initiative focuses on empowering young talents to develop intelligent, technology-driven financial solutions.
The 2026 edition is centered on the theme “Smart Systems: The Intelligent Economy,” encouraging participants to explore how artificial intelligence and fintech can transform financial systems and everyday transactions.
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What Participants Will Build
Teams are expected to develop practical and scalable solutions across the following focus areas:
1. AI Automation: Create systems that simplify and automate financial operations for better efficiency
2. Predictive AI Tools: Build intelligent solutions that detect risks, enhance security, and improve decision-making in financial services
3. Squad API Integration: Use Squad’s infrastructure to design innovative and scalable fintech applications
4. Financial Innovation: Develop creative ideas that improve how individuals and communities send, receive, and manage money
Each project should address real-world financial challenges while demonstrating innovation and usability.
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Benefits of Participating
Participants will gain valuable exposure and experience, including:
- Hands-on experience in solving real fintech problems
- Opportunity to showcase ideas to industry experts and decision-makers
- Increased visibility within Nigeria’s tech and innovation space
- Networking opportunities with like-minded innovators and professionals
Prizes and Rewards
Top-performing teams will receive financial rewards and national recognition:
- 1st Prize: ₦5,000,000 (shared among team members) + media exposure
- 2nd Prize: ₦3,000,000 (shared among team members) + media exposure
- 3rd Prize: ₦2,000,000 (shared among team members) + media exposure
All rewards will be issued in the form of GTBank utility cards.
Eligibility Criteria
To participate in the hackathon, applicants must meet the following conditions:
1. Must be currently enrolled in a recognized university in Nigeria
2. Must form a team of 2 to 4 members
Teams can include members from different academic disciplines
3. At least one team member must have a technical background such as engineering, computer science, or data science
4. Each participant must possess a valid student ID
Note: Individuals are allowed to join only one team.
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How to Apply for GTCO Squad Hackathon
Interested applicants should visit the GTCO Squad Hackathon official registration portal to create or join a team.
Applicants are expected to fill in the required personal and academic details, and submit your application online.
Applicants should focus on building practical, scalable, and innovative solutions that align with the hackathon theme. Strong collaboration and clear problem-solving approaches will improve chances of success.
You can also check out more opportunities you are eligible to apply for on the Recruitment Exercise, Federal Government Initiative Category, Latest Grant Collection Category, and Job and Career Opportunity Desk.
