Three Teams Emerge Winners In HabariPay’s Take-On-Squad Hackathon 1.0 For University Undergraduates

LAGOS, Nigeria – February 22, 2024 – After days of intense collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving, three teams – Team Within, Team X, and Team Storepoint emerged winners in the inaugural Take-on-Squad Hackathon 1.0 coding event held  at the state-of-the-art GTCO Training Complex, Tayo’s Plaza, Abeokuta, Ogun State, from January 18th to 20th, 2024.

Team Storepoint, represented by Haruna Faruk and Ladipo Samuel from the University of Lagos, secured third position and a prize of N1 million. Their winning solution, Storepoint, facilitates quick access to an online marketplace for local shops and small businesses within 5 minutes, using Squad’s API to streamline the payment process.

Team X, consisting of Muktar Jimoh Yusuf, Rasheed Taiwo Mudasiru, and Mukhtar Abdulfatai from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, claimed the second prize, earning a prize of N1.5 million. Their solution leverages advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to revolutionise bundled payments.

The coveted first place was awarded to Team Within, comprising Inuoluwadunsimi Daniel Ola-Oladeinde, Atayero Ayomide Samuel, and Hamzat Victor Oluwabori, students of Obafemi Awolowo University. They received a prize of N2.5 million for their innovative solution focused on streamlining school departmental payments and contributions.

Each team was selected based on the following criteria: real-world applicability, technical creativity, user experience, and teamwork.

Eduofon Japhet, the Managing Director of HabariPay Ltd, expressed her delight with the calibre of solutions showcased during the event.

She remarked, “The level of innovation demonstrated by each team is truly impressive, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing these solutions materialise in the future.”

In recognition of their outstanding achievements, Team Within, Team X and Team Storepoint, along with other standout talents from the hackathon, will be enrolled in the Squad Hackademy – an initiative aimed to empower the participants with comprehensive learning resources, mentorship, and unparalleled job opportunities, fostering a community of innovation and excellence.

HabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, providing best-in-class payment solutions to help businesses in Africa grow and thrive.

Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a complete payment tool to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to sell products and services, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.

HapariPay recently received Mastercard’s Award For Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa and was awarded “Innovative Mobile Payment Solution” for its SquadPOS product by TIA.

Squad is a complete payments solution that is reliable, secure, and affordable, making receiving in-person and online payments simple and convenient. Our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach.

Thousands of merchants currently leverage Squad’s payment solutions for their daily business operations. Squad’s current products and service offerings include SquadPOS, Squad Payment Links, Squad Virtual Accounts, USSD, and E-Commerce Storefront.

Find out more at www.squadco.com.