Wetech AI Hackathon 2026: Build Real AI Solutions and Win ₦1 Million in Lagos

There are not many places in Nigeria right now where a builder can walk in with an idea in the morning and walk out with a cash prize and a network of serious people by evening. The Wetech AI Hackathon 2026 is one of those places.

Organised by Wetech, one of Africa’s most active communities for women in tech, and delivered in partnership with NexaScale, this year’s hackathon brings 100 builders together for a single, intense day of building at the University of Lagos on September 19, 2026. The theme is AI for the Real World, and the prize pool is ₦1,000,000 for the strongest teams.

If you are a developer, product thinker, designer, or startup team member who has been waiting for the right room to build in, this is the one to mark.

What Is the Wetech AI Hackathon?

The Wetech AI Hackathon is a full-day, in-person event for women and AI-curious builders who want to create working solutions to real problems using artificial intelligence. It is not a pitch competition where you show up with a deck. Participants are expected to build something tangible on the day itself, with mentorship available throughout the process.

The event runs at the AI UniPod and Design Studio inside UNILAG, one of Lagos’ most active innovation spaces, making the setting as intentional as the programme itself.

What makes this hackathon different from most is the eligibility requirement. Teams must either be all-women or have at least 50% women as members. That requirement is not a formality. It is the entire point. Wetech exists to shift what the Nigerian and African tech ecosystem looks like at the builder level, and this hackathon is one of the most direct ways it does that.

Who Should Apply

The hackathon is open to:

• Students, professionals, and startup team members
• Individuals who can apply independently or as a team
• Teams of 5 members that are either all-women or at least 50% women
• People with skills in software engineering, product, design, AI integration, or creative problem-solving
• Anyone with some technical foundation and prior exposure to AI tools

On technical requirements, the organisers are clear. You do not need to be an AI expert, but you need to have built something before. Familiarity with coding fundamentals and at least some prior use of AI tools is expected. If you are not the most technical person on your team, that is fine as long as your team has strong technical coverage and you are bringing deep product or design experience to the table. Wetech has also committed to sharing preparation materials ahead of the event to help participants get up to speed.

What to bring: your laptop, charger, an internet-enabled device, and whatever design or development tools your team works with.

How the Day Is Structured

The hackathon is a full in-person experience from start to finish. Here is how the day runs:

• Registration and networking
• Opening talks
• Team formation for those who arrive as individuals
• Building sessions
• Mentorship support from industry professionals
• Project pitching to judges
• Judging and scoring
• Award ceremony and prize announcement

It is a long, productive day, and the format is designed to give teams enough time to think through a real problem, build something functional, and present it clearly.

Prizes

The ₦1,000,000 prize pool is split across the top three teams:

Position	Prize
1st Place	₦500,000
2nd Place	₦300,000
3rd Place	₦200,000

The first place prize goes to the team with the most outstanding AI-powered solution judged on innovation, usability, and real-world impact. Second place rewards exceptional creativity, strong execution, and scalability potential. Third place recognises bold thinking and meaningful AI integration, rewarding the kind of solutions that take an unexpected approach to a genuine problem.

Beyond the cash, the exposure that comes from building in the same room as 100 serious builders, plus mentors connected to the wider Wetech and NexaScale ecosystems, is worth factoring into why this is worth your time.

Venue and Date

Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026 Venue: AI UniPod and Design Studio, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos, Nigeria

This is a fully in-person event. There is no virtual participation option for 2026.

How to Apply

Individual participants and teams both apply through the same form. If you are applying as a team, each member must submit the form individually. Do not register on behalf of your teammates.

Registration link: https://event.wetech.africa/hack

For any questions not covered on the website, reach the Wetech team directly at: [email protected]

One Thing to Note Before You Apply

The window between now and September 19 is short. Getting your team together, aligning on a problem to solve, and doing any prep work with AI tools takes more time than most people plan for. If you are serious about this, register now, form your team this week, and use the remaining time to sharpen your idea before the day arrives.

For more verified opportunities like this one, updated monthly, visit: https://utibeetim.com/list-of-latest-opportunities-for-the-month/

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