By Ephraim Oseji

Forvis Mazars has hosted its first-ever hackathon, “Innovate with Forvis Mazars”. The event united young innovators, professionals, and students, promoting collaboration to tackle real-world challenges through technology. The initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to empowering communities and fostering innovation.

Adams Osamudiame, Partner, Forvis Mazars, explained the vision behind the hackathon.

“The event aligns with our goal of capacitating people and communities by leveraging their ideas and resources. It was a platform to engage diverse talents, including students and professionals, to generate innovative solutions that could translate into viable business opportunities.”

Osamudiame acknowledged the challenges of organising such a large-scale event, from selecting mentors and judges to arranging logistics.

However, he credited strong support from Forvis Mazars in overcoming these hurdles. He emphasised the importance of extending the impact of the hackathon beyond the event:

“These ideas shouldn’t just end here. Our goal is to develop them into market-ready products that can benefit participants, clients, and the broader community,” he said.

The winning team, Team Genie, comprising Sodiq Bolawale, Aishah Abdulwaheed, and Babatunde Mumuni, won the top prize of $1,000 with a score of 78.54%. Their innovative project is an AI-driven chatbot designed to simplify the auditing process by streamlining data retrieval.

Speaking about the project, the team said, “Our product aims to reduce the stress and time associated with audits. By integrating AI into the auditing workflow, it positions Nigerian audit firms at the forefront of technological advancement.”

Despite facing tight deadlines and diverse academic backgrounds, the team collaborated effectively, learning new skills and overcoming challenges. They credited their mentors and organisers for invaluable guidance. For the team, the experience was transformative, as it expanded their approach to problem-solving and highlighted the potential of integrating technology into traditional industries.

Team Smart Audit, the first runner-up, earned $600 with a score of 71.34%. Their project focused on automating the analysis of financial documents, addressing the tedious nature of this task.

The team includes Chidi-Akoma Chikamso, Chibukem Chiagoziem Anyanwu leader and team leader Ejelonu Benedict, who shared insights into their journey the team said, “We faced technical obstacles, including issues with APIs and virtual machines. By exploring alternative tools and maintaining team morale, we delivered a solution aimed at making auditing less stressful and more efficient.”

The second runner-up, Team Kainos, also scoring 71.34%, received $400 for their efforts.

One of the judges, Dr Seun Ebiesuwa, Head of the Computer Science Department at Babcock University, praised the hackathon’s focus on addressing Nigeria’s auditing challenges saying “Auditing in Nigeria has been a cumbersome process, often lacking transparency and accountability. The solutions presented here have the potential to revolutionise the field, making it more efficient and accessible.”

Dr Ebiesuwa commended Team Genie for their structured approach and seamless presentation, emphasising the need for continuous innovation.

“While these solutions address current issues, they will also create new challenges, underscoring the importance of sustained innovation to meet evolving needs,” he said.

He encouraged future participants to identify real-world problems early and prepare diligently.