Blaze by Ecobank, in partnership with Verve, has invited young Nigerians to apply for InnovateX 2026, a nationwide innovation challenge aimed at helping tertiary students transform creative and technology-driven ideas into practical solutions.

The programme features an advertised ₦20 million prize pool, alongside mentorship, bootcamps, networking opportunities and potential career opportunities with Ecobank. The grand finale is scheduled for 30 October 2026.

The competition offers participating teams financial rewards and opportunities to develop their projects through practical training and guidance from industry professionals.

The published cash prizes for the top five teams are ₦5 million for the first-place winner, ₦4 million for second place, ₦3.5 million for third place, ₦2.5 million for fourth place and ₦1 million for fifth place.

Beyond the financial rewards, participants can benefit from mentorship by industry experts, exposure to Ecobank’s innovation team, internship opportunities, potential National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) placement opportunities and free debit cards.

InnovateX 2026 features two competition tracks: Inclusive Finance and Creative Economy. Each track provides a range of areas in which participants can develop their ideas.

The Inclusive Finance track covers youth credit solutions, fraud detection and prevention, financial inclusion, payment innovation, gaming and loyalty solutions, and customer experience enhancement.

The Creative Economy track focuses on education, entertainment and the creator economy, service hubs, social innovation, e-commerce, and transport and logistics.

The programme is targeted at young Nigerians, particularly tertiary students with innovative ideas. According to the official website, one section of the eligibility requirements specifies that applicants must be tertiary students aged 16 to 25 and possess valid school identification.

However, another section of the website states a broader age range of 16 to 30. Prospective applicants are therefore advised to confirm the applicable age requirement through the registration portal before applying.

To participate, applicants must form a team of four members and open and maintain an active Blaze account. Each team must select either the Inclusive Finance or Creative Economy track, complete the online registration form and submit its project idea within the application window.

Applications will undergo screening, after which shortlisted teams may advance to regional selections and subsequent programme activities.

The regional activation locations listed on the website include YABATECH in Lagos, the University of Port Harcourt and the University of Abuja.

Interested applicants can visit the official InnovateX 2026 registration website to access the application process and confirm the programme’s requirements.

Source: InnovateX Africa