By Prince Osuagwu

Digital payments, Visa, in collaboration with Microsoft, hosted a Microsoft AI Skills Week Hackathon in Lagos, Nigeria as part of their shared commitment to build practical AI capabilities within the financial services sector through compliance and innovation.

The programme, which ran from May 26 to 30, brought together over 70 developers, as well as 150 CIOs, CTOs and digital transformation leaders across the financial services sector for self-paced learning, live sessions, interactive workshops, and a hackathon centred on solving real life challenges in fintech.

As part of ongoing efforts to equip developers and end users with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to drive AI adoption, Microsoft’s AI Skills Week featured sessions led by Visa, TeKnowledge, and GitHub, where developers explored generative AI technologies including Azure OpenAI and Semantic Kernel.

Participants of the five-hour hackathon designed AI-driven solutions using Agentic AI and Microsoft Copilot to address challenges around maintaining robust Know Your Customer, KYC, compliance within the financial service industry, FSI. This included solutions each  demo was evaluated by a panel of fintech and AI experts with the winning teams receiving mentorship and potential productization support to bring high-impact solutions to market and drive.

Vice President and Cluster Head, Visa West Africa, Andrew Uaboi, said: “We are driven to support the next generation of fintech leaders in Nigeria and are proud to partner with Microsoft to catalyze technologies that are secure, inclusive, and built for scale.”

Senior Manager, Fintech & Digital Partnerships for Visa West & Central Africa, Jean Yenga, said; “By empowering local talent to harness generative AI and agentic systems, we aim to advance compliance innovation and reshape challenges in the financial services sector into competitive differentiators that reflect the unique needs of African markets.

“Our goal is to foster a fintech ecosystem that is agile, inclusive, and ready for the future of digital finance.

“The financial services industry in Nigeria stands as a beacon of innovation and a critical driver of economic growth.”

Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, Ola Williams, said: “At Microsoft, we believe that nurturing upcoming talent is essential to sustaining this momentum and unlocking transformative possibilities for the sector.

“Through collaborative initiatives like AI Skills Week, we are committed to equipping developers, leaders, and innovators with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the evolving landscape of digital finance.

“Together with Visa, we aim to empower Nigerian fintech professionals to lead with cutting-edge solutions that enhance compliance, elevate customer experiences, and drive financial inclusion, ensuring a future that is both agile and inclusive.”