The 2018 edition of the Re:Code Nigeria Hackathon, organized by Access Bank Plc, extends an invitation to a wide array of tech professionals and innovators. Software developers, programmers, coders, data specialists, problem-solvers, UI/UX designers, business analysts, and anyone with an innovative idea capable of transforming the FinTech Industry within 48 hours are encouraged to participate. This event provides a platform to showcase great skill and talent in addressing pertinent financial sector challenges.

Scheduled to take place from July 20th to 22nd, 2018, in Lagos, the Re:Code Nigeria Hackathon is a rigorous 48-hour non-stop event. The venue for this intensive innovation sprint is the AFF Building, located at 1216, Ibiyinka Olorunbe street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The hackathon will commence with an introduction and briefing by various platform providers, after which teams will dive into the 48-hour coding exercise.

The core objective of the hackathon is to bring together smart-thinkers to brainstorm and develop solutions that will significantly enhance and add value to the FinTech Industry. Participants will tackle several critical challenges. These include exploring how financial technology can effectively address supply chain challenges, from finished goods to retail, within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector. Another key area involves leveraging big-data analytics, identity management, and behavioral analysis to precisely identify customers' needs, thereby enabling the provision of tailored investment advice and lending services. Furthermore, a significant focus is placed on financial inclusion for the agricultural and related sectors, with an emphasis on improving credit scoring mechanisms and expanding financing opportunities for small and medium-scale operators.

Following the intense coding period, participating teams will have a concise 120 seconds to pitch their innovative solutions to an expert panel of judges. The evaluation will be based on three primary criteria: the level of completion of the hack, the novelty and originality of the idea presented, and how well the solution adheres to the overarching themes and challenges of the hackathon. The top three winning teams will be awarded gifts totaling N5 million.

This significant event is supported by Access Bank and a consortium of leading industry partners, including Microsoft, Kantar TNS, IBM, Google, Accenture, Ntel, Dell, Intel, Flutterwave, and SAS, underscoring the collaborative effort to drive FinTech innovation in Nigeria.

The success of previous editions sets a high bar; the last event saw