Build Zero — UNILAG, Lagos
Eighteen teams built practical AI projects in twelve hours at UNILAG.
This hack is complete. Registration is closed.
Join hack updates- Registrations
- 121
- Active hackers
- 35
- Attendance
- 50+
- Teams formed
- 18
- Project demos
- 14
- Volunteers
- 15
- Duration
- 12hours
- AI credits
- $800each
The hack
The story so far.
On 24 July 2026, builders gathered at the Design Studio Hall at the University of Lagos for AI HackDays in the Heart of Lagos. The one-day event ran from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., turning twelve focused hours into a full cycle of team formation, product development, demonstrations, and recognition.
The response was strong: 121 people registered, more than 50 attended, and 35 active hackers formed 18 teams. By the end of the sprint, 14 teams had working projects ready to demonstrate. Their ideas crossed fintech, healthcare, education, legal access, wellness, research, space technology, and support for Africa's informal economy.
TrustFlow took the overall win with its AI-assisted microfinance workflow for lenders. Digilize finished as first runner-up with a platform that automates digital marketing work. Both projects were also recognized for their use of Google Gemini.
The day was sustained by 15 volunteers and support from Major League Hacking, Google Gemini, Adaptation AI, and Fidelity Bank. Every participant received $800 in Adaptation AI cloud credits, alongside MLH swag and Google Gemini student benefits.
More than a competition, the UNILAG edition showed what can happen when builders from different disciplines share a room, a deadline, and the freedom to turn locally grounded problems into working products.
Build Zero — UNILAG was a one-day AI hackathon organized by Build54 Africa Foundation under the theme “AI HackDays in the Heart of Lagos.” Students, developers, engineers, researchers, and working professionals came together to build practical technology for problems they understood firsthand.
The people
Who it brought together.
- University students and researchers across STEM disciplines.
- Developers, engineers, AI enthusiasts, and working professionals.
The work
From idea to demo.
- AI tools for everyday business and the informal economy.
- Products for learning, healthcare, legal access, and research.
- Financial workflows with human oversight.
Made by the community
What teams made.
AfriChain
Team AfriChainBuilt by Ayinde Wisdom Elisha, Salaudeen Mubarak, and Abdulmuqodeem Aliyu, AfriChain is a voice assistant for informal businesses to track sales, expenses, debts, and tasks in local languages.
Zeroth
Team ZerothBuilt by Nuffi Akolade and Aroyewun Inioluwa, Zeroth is a money-management prototype with purpose-based wallets, Pidgin commands, and controls on cash withdrawals.
Jot
Team JotBuilt by Alabi Ayobami and Timothy Onyeacholam, Jot is an app that records, transcribes, and organises lecture notes offline.
Synthropic
Team SynthropicBuilt by Wisdom Ofogba, Banjoko Divine, and Alfred Valentine, Synthropic is an AI learning assistant for document analysis, study guides, planning, and offline tutoring.
Medirun
Team MedirunBuilt by Ikolo David, Okechukwu Benzion, and Apapa Ayomide, Medirun is a healthcare prototype for finding pharmacies, ordering medicines, and tracking deliveries.
VerifAI
Team VerifAIBuilt by Adetona Blessing, VerifAI is an AI tool for checking scholarship, internship, and grant opportunities against sources.
TrustFlow
Team TrustFlowBuilt by Taiwo Khaleel Onigbinde and Samuel Olowu, TrustFlow helps microfinance lenders use borrower histories and repayment patterns to make human-reviewed recommendations, automate reminders, and preserve an audit trail, TrustFlow won overall with a human-reviewed microfinance AI tool and was recognised for using Google Gemini.
SaneSpace
Team SaneSpacesBuilt by Adeboyejo Aliyah, Fisayo Aiyetogbon, and Amoo Mustakeem, SaneSpace is a multilingual AI wellness companion designed to offer culturally inclusive emotional support.
Lara
Team LaraBuilt by Emafido Emmanuel, Apebende Stephen, Olayinka Akanji, and Akapo Raheem, Lara is an AI tool that flags contract risks and explains them in English or Pidgin.
AEGIS
Team AEGISBuilt by Eniola Enijeshiku, AEGIS is an AI platform for monitoring satellite health, maintenance needs, and orbital risks.
Digilize
Team DigilizeBuilt by Aileru Abdul-Qoyyum, Digilize automates brand-aware content creation, scheduling, publishing, campaigns, SEO, and digital-marketing workflows from one dashboard, Digilize was first runner-up with an AI marketing platform and was recognised for using Google Gemini.
TheLaaw
Team TheLaawBuilt by Divine Favour Akanbi, Oshinloye Omodesire, and Chief Chinoso, TheLaaw is a legal assistant for WhatsApp and the web, with multilingual guidance and document tools.
LearnPath AI
Team LearnPathBuilt by Alabi Joshua, Clark Oghenero, and Ajugu Isreal, LearnPath AI is a learning platform with structured modules, video tutorials, assessments, and progress tracking.
Unshelved
Team UnshelvedBuilt by Mustopha Adegbite, Unshelved is an AI tool for reviewing undergraduate research submissions and producing evidence-based feedback.
The format
In person · 12 hours
A one-day, in-person sprint at the Design Studio Hall, University of Lagos. Morning kickoff and team formation led into building, project demonstrations, and results at the close of the day.
- Where
- Design Studio Hall, University of Lagos
- When
- 9:00 AM–9:00 PM WAT
The programme
How the day unfolded.
Morning — Kickoff & team formation
Participants checked in, received opening remarks, and formed teams for the day.
Daytime — Build
Teams collaborated, developed their products, and prepared working demonstrations during the twelve-hour sprint.
Evening — Project demonstrations
Fourteen teams presented working projects spanning fintech, healthcare, education, legal access, wellness, research, and space technology.
Close — Results & recognition
TrustFlow was named the overall winner and Digilize the first runner-up before the event closed at 9:00 p.m.
Recognition
The event record.
Fourteen teams presented working projects. The archive records TrustFlow as overall winner and Digilize as first runner-up; a detailed scoring rubric is not available in the event record.
Built with support
The partners behind the hack.
Major League HackingHackathon infrastructure behind Build Zero — Nairobi and UNILAG.
Visit Major League Hacking
Google GeminiStudent AI benefits and project support at Build Zero — UNILAG.
Adaptation AI$800 in AI cloud credits for every Build Zero — UNILAG participant.
Industry partner at Build Zero — UNILAG.
Major League Hacking supported the event infrastructure, Google Gemini supplied student AI benefits, Adaptation AI provided $800 in cloud credits for every participant, and Fidelity Bank joined the day as an industry partner.
Good to know
A few questions, answered.
Who took part?
The event brought together university students, developers, engineers, AI enthusiasts, innovators, and working professionals from computer science, engineering, physics, and other STEM disciplines.
What did teams build?
Teams created AI-powered products across fintech, healthcare, education, legal access, wellness, research assessment, space technology, and support for Africa's informal economy.
How many projects were presented?
Eighteen teams formed during the event and fourteen completed projects were presented at the innovation showcase.
What support did participants receive?
Participants received $800 in Adaptation AI cloud credits, Major League Hacking swag, and Google Gemini student benefits.
People, ideas, and everything between
Inside the hack.
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