A team of four students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) shone brightly as the only student team among the finalists at the recently concluded Zecathon 6.0, one of Africa’s most prestigious and highly competitive hackathons, organised by Zenith Bank.
Competing against established professional teams and start-ups from across the continent, the UNILAG team distinguished itself by demonstrating exceptional innovation, technical excellence and problem-solving capabilities. Their outstanding performance earned them 5th place and a cash prize of ₦10 million.
The award-winning team of 300-level students comprised:
- Quadri Lasisi – Department of Data Science, Faculty of Computing and Informatics
- Sanni Shazily – Department of Data Science, Faculty of Computing and Informatics
- Abdulrahman Raufu – Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Computing and Informatics
- Adam Lawal – Department of Statistics, Faculty of Physical and Earth Sciences
At the grand finale held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the team presented Avera, an agentic infrastructure designed to streamline customer dispute resolution and transaction investigation processes. The solution showcased the students’ ability to address real-world challenges in financial services through cutting-edge technology and intelligent automation.
Beyond the competition, the team also had the rare opportunity to engage directly with the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank and members of the Bank’s Board of Directors, further highlighting the significance of their accomplishment.
This success marks another milestone in an already impressive journey. The same team previously emerged as 2nd place winners at the GTCo Squadco Hackathon 3.0. (Read more: https://www.lagosedu.com/unilag-team-setld-emerges-2nd-place-at-gtco-squad-hackathon-3-0/).
Their latest accomplishment at Zecathon 6.0 reinforces a growing reputation for excellence and innovation, while continuing to elevate the University’s profile among Africa’s leading technology talents.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, on behalf of the Senate, staff and students, congratulates the team on this outstanding achievement and for continuing to make the University of Lagos proud on the continental stage.
