Oluwapelumi Yusuf has emerged winner of the first edition of the MTN MoMo Hackathon in Nigeria, winning the grand prize of USD 5,000 for inventing Rova Pay, which incorporates MoMo APIs with features that transcend payment processing.
The winner was unveiled over the weekend in Lagos during the finals of the Nigeria end of the hackathon, focused on developing solutions to accelerate financial inclusion and digitization of payments in Africa over the weekend in Lagos.
Rova Pay offers customers the convenience of making transactions anytime and anywhere using automated USSD, which eliminates the need for internet services and manual code dialling.
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“At MoMo, we stand firm in our belief that innovation thrives not just within our brand, but within the collective of stakeholders,” Elsa Muzzolini, Chief Commercial Officer, MoMo PSB, said, while speaking on the importance of the MoMo Hackathon in the Nigerian fintech industry.
According to him, MTN’s commitment to fostering financial inclusion is a collaborative effort. He said making MoMo accessible to innovators across Nigeria, will enable them to leverage its full potential in developing applications capable of transforming lives.
“That is why we are equipping developers with the tools and resources necessary to expedite reaching individuals who are excluded from financial access or believe that financial services are not tailored to their needs,” Muzzolini said.
“I am thrilled and honoured to have won the MoMo Hackathon 2023. My motivation for conceiving this solution was born during my visits to rural communities in Nigeria, where I witnessed the limitations imposed by the need for internet connectivity to access basic applications, particularly for payment purposes. I recognised the need to bridge this gap and support financial inclusion,” Yusuf said while receiving his prize.
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MoMo Cash, developed by Marvis Igbokwe and Favour Ajie Divine won second place with a cash prize of USD 3,000 while Isaac Odinaka Franklin’s solution, Clique Plus Pay, won third place with a cash prize of USD 2,000.
The top 12 participants also received an invitation to the Pan African grand finale to represent Nigeria in the MoMo Hackathon. The initiative provided an opportunity to drive force in the advancement of financial technology, creating opportunities for talented individuals to make a meaningful impact on the industry.
The hackathon provided a unique opportunity for developers across 14 African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Rwanda, Eswatini, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea Conakry, Zambia, Benin, Liberia, South Africa, and South Sudan to further shape the future of digital finance and empower millions of people with access to comprehensive and life-changing financial services.
