Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, has successfully concluded the Grand Finale of its Technovation 4.0 Hackathon, awarding a total of ₦10 million in cash prizes to top teams whose innovative solutions stood out during the rigorous multiple phases of the competition. The one-day finale event, which took place on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Interswitch Innovation Lab and Co-Working Space, brought together employees, senior leaders, judges, and key stakeholders to celebrate months of ideation, experimentation, and product development under the theme ‘The Wicked Hackathon’. At the close of the highly competitive session, Team Quickteller Fashion emerged as the overall winner, securing the grand prize of ₦4,000,000 for a solution that impressed judges with its originality, practicality, and strong strategic relevance. Team Kampe claimed second position with ₦2,500,000, while Team Stable placed third, receiving ₦1,500,000. Up to N300,000 worth of cash prizes were also awarded to the 4th, 5th and 6th qualifying teams. Now in its fourth edition, Technovation has evolved into a flagship internal innovation platform for Interswitch since its inception in 2022, empowering employees to tackle complex organisational and industry challenges by developing scalable technology solutions aligned with the company’s strategic priorities. Speaking at the event, Adaobi Okerekeocha, Chief Innovation Officer, Interswitch, highlighted the significance of the programme in strengthening the company’s innovation culture.“Technovation continues to reflect who we are as an organisation, bold, forward-thinking, and deeply committed to building impactful solutions from within. Over the years, we have seen ideas conceived during this programme evolve into meaningful capabilities that strengthen our ecosystem. The passion, discipline, and ingenuity demonstrated by our teams this year reinforce our belief in the power of African innovation to solve complex challenges and shape the future of technology on the continent,” Eromosele said. For nine months, cross-functional teams from across the organisation collaborated to conceptualise, validate, develop, and refine solutions, moving from raw ideas to minimum viable products (MVPs) with ready-to-market potential and deployment across the business. The atmosphere at the Grand Finale reflected that of preparation and anticipation as the top 9 teams presented their innovations through live demonstrations and detailed pitches, fielding questions from a distinguished panel of judges before the top 3 winners were selected. Each presentation highlighted rigorous validation processes, thoughtful market considerations, and a strong emphasis on measurable impact. While many of the solutions remain confidential due to their strategic relevance, the diversity and depth of ideas showcased during the Hackathon’s Grand Finale underscored the organisation’s growing culture of intrapreneurship and structured innovation. The projects illustrated how technology-driven thinking can unlock efficiencies, strengthen operational capabilities, and open new pathways for growth across the digital payments and commerce ecosystem. Beyond the competition itself, Technovation reinforces Interswitch’s long-term commitment to nurturing internal talent, encouraging experimentation, and creating a structured pipeline for transforming ideas into tangible business outcomes. As the fourth edition draws to a close, the programme stands as a testament to Interswitch’s ongoing investment in people, innovation, and the future of Africa’s digital economy.

Verve International, Africa’s leading card scheme and token brand—and a subsidiary of Interswitch Group—successfully hosted the 2026 edition of Verve Biz Unwind at the prestigious Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, convening key stakeholders across the financial services ecosystem for high-level industry engagement.

The event brought together issuer banks, fintech innovators, merchants, payment processors, and strategic partners for a curated forum focused on strategic dialogue, ecosystem alignment, and the evolving future of digital payments in Africa. Designed as an intimate yet impact-driven platform, Verve Biz Unwind continues to serve as a catalyst for meaningful conversations shaping the continent’s rapidly transforming payments landscape.

This year’s edition emphasized the importance of strengthening industry collaboration amid significant shifts in digital commerce. With the accelerating adoption of contactless transactions, embedded finance models, open banking frameworks, and real-time payment capabilities, the need for coordinated innovation and resilient infrastructure has become increasingly urgent. Verve Biz Unwind provided stakeholders with a valuable opportunity to exchange insights, address shared challenges, and identify collaborative pathways toward sustainable, long-term growth.

A defining highlight of the event was the official unveiling of Verve Tokenization, a next-generation security solution engineered to enhance transaction integrity, accelerate digital commerce adoption, and future-proof Africa’s payments ecosystem.

A defining highlight of the event was the official unveiling of Verve Tokenization, a next-generation security solution engineered to strengthen transaction integrity, accelerate digital commerce adoption, and future-proof Africa’s payments ecosystem.

Verve Tokenization replaces sensitive cardholder data with secure, device-bound digital tokens, ensuring that every transaction generates a unique cryptogram. By eliminating the need to expose actual card details during transactions, the solution significantly reduces the risk of fraud and data breaches, while enabling seamless and consistent payment experiences across multiple digital channels.

Speaking on this year’s edition, Paul Ohakim, Vice President, Issuing & Acquiring (Africa) at Verve International, underscored the critical role of collaboration in shaping the continent’s payments future. He noted that as digital commerce accelerates, driven by contactless innovations, embedded finance models, open banking frameworks, and rising demand for real-time transactions, no single institution can independently define or sustain the next phase of industry evolution.

He emphasized that Verve Biz Unwind was intentionally designed to foster stronger alignment among traditional financial institutions, fintech innovators, merchants, and payment processors in delivering secure, seamless, and inclusive payment experiences at scale. According to him, strategic partnerships remain fundamental to achieving long-term progress and effectively responding to the evolving needs of consumers and businesses across Africa.

“As digital commerce accelerates, no single institution can shape the future of payments alone,” he said. “Stronger collaboration between banks, fintechs, merchants, and processors is essential to delivering secure, seamless, and inclusive payment experiences across Africa.”

He further noted that tokenization represents far more than a backend technology upgrade; it signals a structural shift in how payments are secured, experienced, and monetized.               “By enabling interoperability across wallets, banking apps, e-commerce checkouts, and contactless infrastructure, Verve Tokenization empowers a single Verve card to operate securely across multiple digital environments without compromising user convenience.”

Beyond networking, the event reaffirmed Verve International’s long-standing commitment to deepening ecosystem partnerships and advancing collective progress across the payments value chain. Through structured engagements and forward-looking discussions, participants aligned on a shared roadmap focused on elevating security standards, strengthening interoperability, and delivering customer-centric payment solutions at scale.

As Africa’s digital economy continues to expand and consumer expectations evolve toward faster, safer, and more intuitive experiences, Verve International remains steadfast in its mission to modernize the continent’s payment infrastructure securely, intelligently, and collaboratively, while enabling partners to unlock sustainable growth and long-term value.

Before sunrise at Ojo Bus Terminal in Ibadan, engines warm up and journeys begin.
Commuters move quickly, drivers prepare for long hours on the road, and traders set the
tone for the day ahead. It is within this rhythm of urgency and ambition that NESCAFÉ is
deepening its everyday presence.
As Nigeria’s leading coffee brand, NESCAFÉ has introduced a new kiosk at Ojo Bus
Terminal in Ibadan, Oyo State, bringing its signature blend of taste and momentum to
helping Nigerians start strong and finish strong.
In Nigeria, the day often begins in motion, at bus parks, markets and commercial centres
where ambition meets urgency. By bringing NESCAFÉ closer to commuters, drivers and
traders within the terminal environment, the brand is embedding itself directly into the pulse
of daily life.
“Having NESCAFÉ available right here in the terminal has added real value to the daily
experience of commuters and operators,” said Adisa Olumide, Manager at the Bus Terminal.
“Passengers can now access quality coffee just steps away from their departure points,
without leaving the park. The feedback has been positive, especially around the rich taste
and the prompt service, which fits perfectly into the fast pace of this environment.”
For NESCAFÉ, the Ojo Bus Terminal kiosk is not simply a new touchpoint, but a natural
extension of its long-standing presence in homes, workplaces and communities across
Nigeria.
“For us at Nestlé Professional, this initiative reflects our continued commitment to delivering
quality beverage solutions to Nigerians wherever they are, even on the go,” said Ibraheem
Awelenje, Nestlé Professional Channels Manager. “NESCAFÉ has always been about
empowering strong starts, and this activation strengthens that connection in a meaningful
and accessible way.”
The kiosk currently serves NESCAFÉ 3-in-1 Original and NESCAFÉ Classic, with plans to
expand the offering to include MILO, ensuring a wider range of options that resonate with
the surrounding community. Operations are conducted in line with Nestlé Professional’s food
safety and hygiene standards.
“This launch demonstrates how NESCAFÉ continues to strengthen its presence in everyday,
high-traffic locations,” said Jean-Pierre Duplan, Category Manager for Coffee. “By situating a
kiosk at Ojo Bus Terminal, we are bringing the brand closer to Nigerians with busy routines
and reinforcing our commitment to helping them start strong and finish strong.”
Beyond accessibility, the kiosk builds on Nestlé’s long-term commitment to entrepreneurship
through its My Own Business (MYOWBU) scheme. Operated by a local entrepreneur who
has been part of the MYOWBU ecosystem for over ten years, the kiosk has created two

direct jobs, one operator and one attendant, with ongoing training provided in hygiene
practices and business management.
“After ten years as an attendant, my dedication has turned into ownership through the
NESCAFÉ kiosk initiative,” said the kiosk operator. “This kiosk is not just a business for me;
it is a new chapter.”
Sustainability considerations are integrated into daily operations. The kiosk uses recyclable
cups, and operators are trained on responsible waste management practices, including
proper disposal of materials and encouraging customers to do the same.
At Ojo Bus Terminal, where journeys begin long before sunrise, NESCAFÉ is doing more
than serving coffee. It is fuelling the drive, resilience and ambition that power Nigeria’s
mornings one cup at a time.