Chukwudi Peter Ofoma, a pioneer student of Computer Science Department, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), and the pioneer President of the Technology Innovation Club (TIC), accomplished alongside his team, Horizon AI, the Grand Prize at the recently concluded Payaza FinTech Hackathon 3.0.
The Payaza FinTech Hackathon 3.0 was a two-day event held to address the theme: AI-Powered Financial Inclusion for MSMEs. It brought together brilliant innovators to create groundbreaking AI-driven solutions to empower small and medium-sized businesses across Africa.
As the team lead of Horizon AI, Chukwudi guided a small group of talented individuals in creating an innovative solution that earned the Grand Prize of $5,000 and a 10-week spot in the Payaza Incubator Program to develop and scale our idea further.
Their solution integrates the following features:
- AI-based credit scoring: Enabling MSMEs to access loans efficiently.
- Smart expense management tools: Helping businesses track and optimize their spending.
- Personalized financial literacy platforms: Tailored to enhance business owners’ financial knowledge.
- Fraud detection and prevention systems: To protect MSMEs from financial losses.
Winning this competition highlights PAU’s contribution to shaping innovators who tackle real-world challenges. It also showcases the strength of collaboration, creativity, and leadership fostered at our university.
As winners, The Horizon AI team is set to join the Payaza Incubator Program, where they will refine their solution for greater impact. We’re excited to continue shaping the future of fintech for MSMEs in Africa.
