Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, in collaboration with Microsoft, recently hosted a successful AI Skills Week Hackathon in Lagos, Nigeria. This multi-day program, which ran from May 26 to 30, was a significant step in their shared commitment to cultivating practical AI capabilities within the burgeoning financial services sector, with a strong emphasis on compliance and innovation. The event brought together a substantial contingent of over 70 developers, alongside 150 CIOs, CTOs, and digital transformation leaders from across the financial services industry, fostering an environment rich in self-paced learning, live sessions, interactive workshops, and a focused hackathon.

As part of the ongoing efforts to equip developers and end-users with the essential knowledge and hands-on experience required to accelerate AI adoption, Microsoft’s AI Skills Week featured comprehensive sessions. These sessions were expertly led by representatives from Visa, TeKnowledge, and GitHub, providing participants with invaluable insights into generative AI technologies, including cutting-edge platforms like Azure OpenAI and Semantic Kernel. A pivotal element of the program was the five-hour hackathon, where participants were tasked with designing innovative AI-driven solutions. Utilizing advanced tools such as Agentic AI and Microsoft Copilot, the teams specifically addressed critical challenges related to maintaining robust Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance within the financial service industry (FSI).

Each demo presented during the hackathon underwent rigorous evaluation by a distinguished panel of fintech and AI experts. The winning teams were not only recognized for their ingenuity but were also provided with crucial mentorship and potential productization support, designed to help them bring their high-impact solutions to market. Andrew Uaboi, Vice President and Cluster Head, Visa West Africa, articulated Visa’s commitment, stating, “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. 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. Our goal is to foster a fintech ecosystem that is agile, inclusive, and ready for the future of digital finance.”

Echoing this sentiment, Ola Williams, Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, emphasized the significance of nurturing local talent. “The financial services industry in Nigeria stands as a beacon of innovation and a critical driver of economic growth. At Microsoft, we believe that nurturing upcoming talent is essential to sustaining this momentum and unlocking transformative possibilities for the sector. 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. Together with Visa, we aim 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.”

This strategic partnership between Microsoft and Visa unequivocally underscores their profound commitment to nurturing Africa’s rapidly expanding fintech ecosystem. By equipping developers with advanced AI competencies that are meticulously aligned with current industry standards and real-world applications, the program powerfully demonstrates how agentic innovation can effectively bridge existing gaps between compliance requirements, optimal customer experience, and broader financial inclusion. The initiative serves as a powerful testament to the transformative potential of collaborative efforts in driving technological advancement and fostering a more inclusive digital financial landscape in Nigeria and beyond.