Students of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, have been encouraged to embrace innovation, creativity, and continuous learning as vital tools for success in today’s tech-driven world.
Speaking during the opening of the university’s campus round of the Enugu Hackathon Competition, the Director of Competitions, Mrs. Uchanta Chukwu urged students to apply innovation not just in academics but in every area of life. She explained that the hackathon was designed to challenge students’ coding and problem solving abilities while identifying top talents to represent the university in the state contest.
Mrs. Chukwu thanked the Enugu State Government for sponsoring the competition, describing it as a commendable investment in youth development. She reminded students that technology is constantly evolving and advised them to stay current with new trends to remain globally competitive.
The competition featured teams mostly from the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology and Natural Sciences and Environmental Studies, which showcased creative solutions to real-world problems.
Judges were selected from the partner organizations — Genesys, The Garage, and Godfrey Okoye University, including Dr. J. Iyoke and Mr. Lucky Azike, who brought their expertise in technology and innovation to the evaluation process.
After a rigorous presentation session, Team Gencoach, led by Okolie Chikamjiaka Frances, emerged as a winner with an AI-powered learning platform that offers real-time voice interaction, multilingual support, and open-source integration.
Other top teams included:
Outreach (2nd place) – An anonymous mental health support platform with an SOS feature for users in distress.
Netrobase (3rd place) – An automated CBT and grading system with cloud-based storage and an LMS.
FutureNow – After-school innovation labs teaching AI, coding, and entrepreneurship through practical projects.
Zempaa – An AI-based shopping platform with social payment options and voice-enabled assistance.
The top three teams among the finalists received cheques of ₦750,000, ₦500,000, and ₦250,000 respectively, in recognition of their outstanding innovations and presentations.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy and MSMEs, Mr. Arinze Chilo-Offiah attended the event and commended the students for their creativity and active participation. He reaffirmed the Enugu State Government’s mission to empower young people in technology and innovation.
The top five teams will advance to the boot camp, where they will compete with other campuses across Enugu State for a grand prize exceeding $100,000.
The competition is sponsored by the Enugu State Government through the Enugu SME Agency and co-sponsored by The Garage, Genesys, and other partner organizations.
Congratulations to the winners.
