Microsoft and Visa have successfully completed a multi-day artificial intelligence training and hackathon program designed to equip Nigerian fintech developers with practical AI skills. The initiative, held in Lagos as part of Microsoft’s AI Skills Week, brought together over 70 developers and more than 150 chief information officers, chief technology officers, and digital transformation leaders from the financial services industry.
The program featured a combination of self-paced learning, live technical sessions, interactive workshops, and a five-hour hackathon focused on developing AI-powered solutions to address real-world challenges in compliance and innovation within the fintech sector. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts by both companies to nurture the next generation of fintech leaders and drive the adoption of AI technologies across Africa’s digital economy.
“We are driven to support the next generation of fintech leaders in Nigeria and are proud to partner with Microsoft to catalyze technologies that are secure, inclusive, and built for scale,” said Andrew Uaboi, Vice President and Cluster Head, Visa West Africa. “By empowering local talent to harness generative AI and agentic systems, we aim to advance compliance innovation and reshape challenges in the financial services sector into competitive differentiators that reflect the unique needs of African markets.”
During the hackathon, participants were introduced to emerging AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, Azure OpenAI, and Semantic Kernel. They were tasked with developing agentic AI solutions to address Know Your Customer compliance pain points in the financial services industry. The winning teams were selected by a panel of fintech and AI experts and will receive mentorship and potential productization support to further develop and scale their solutions.
The program also received technical leadership and mentorship support from TeKnowledge and GitHub, helping developers explore responsible methods for integrating AI into the financial services value chain. “The financial services industry in Nigeria stands as a beacon of innovation and a critical driver of economic growth,” said Ola Williams, Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana. “Through collaborative initiatives like AI Skills Week, we are committed to equipping developers, leaders, and innovators with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the evolving landscape of digital finance.”
The collaboration between Microsoft and Visa aims to empower Nigerian fintech professionals to lead with cutting-edge solutions that enhance compliance, elevate customer experiences, and drive financial inclusion, ensuring a future that is both agile and inclusive.
