2026 BuildVerse Hackathon Series — 1st Edition
Deadline: May 8, 2026
11:59 PM (WAT)
The BuildVerse Hackathon Series is an AI-driven competition with Chekk Inc. that brings together teams of 2–4 university students and recent graduates to collaborate and create AI-driven products tackling real-world challenges. The 1st Edition focuses on Education Tech, Civic Engagement, and Social Impact & Inclusion.
Read more about this program at the BuildVerse Hackathon page.
1st Edition Focus Areas
Teams will build AI-driven solutions in one of the following tracks:
1. Education Tech
Develop AI-powered solutions that improve access to quality education, enhance learning experiences, or address educational inequality in Nigeria.
2. Civic Engagement
Build tools that use AI to strengthen civic participation, improve government transparency, or empower citizens in democratic processes.
3. Social Impact & Inclusion
Create AI-driven products that promote social inclusion, accessibility, and equitable opportunity for underserved communities.
Timeline
Application Open
April 1, 2026
Application Deadline
May 8, 2026, 11:59 PM (WAT)
Hackathon Sprint, Judging & Awards
Early June 2026 — TBD
Competition Stages
1. First Round: Pitch & Plan
Teams define the problem, outline their AI approach, and demonstrate their vision. Top 90% of teams advance.
2. Semifinal: Build & Refine
Teams ship working prototypes of their AI-driven solutions. Top 5 teams advance to the Finals.
3. Final: Present & Shine
Finalists demo their full AI-driven solutions live to the judging panel. Winners are announced.
Prizes
1st Place
₦400,000 for the 1st place team
Top Teams
Cash prizes for other top teams
Certificates
BuildVerse Certificates for all participants
Web Feature
Web feature for the top teams
Eligibility/Entry Criteria
- Teams of 2–4 members required
- Open to students and recent graduates of Nigerian universities holding at least a bachelor's degree (graduated within the last 3 years)
- Participants can be located anywhere in Nigeria (virtual participation)
Eligibility Verification
Applicants must provide an official document that clearly verifies their student or recent graduate status during submission. Acceptable documents include: a signed letter of attestation from your Head of Department (HOD) or Dean, school ID, LMS portal screenshot, library ID, transcript, eligibility slip, statement of result, or similar documentation.
We are inclusive in what we accept, as we understand potential hurdles may arise during this process. If you have any concerns regarding eligibility verification, please reach out to us via email or our social media channels.
What You'll Need
Team Formation
Assemble a team of 2–4 members. It is recommended to bring together complementary skills (developers, designers, and domain experts), but this is neither a requirement nor is it compulsory to win the hackathon.
Technical Setup
Access to a computer with internet connection. Familiarity with agentic IDEs (Claude Code, Windsurf, Codex, Cursor) and GitHub is required for at least one member of the team and recommended for all others. At least 50% of each project must be built using an agentic IDE or similar tool.
At the time of application, a GitHub account may not be relevant, but if selected to move forward, all team members will be required to create a GitHub account (takes less than 2 minutes). This ensures all members commit code as collaborators, fostering shared ownership of project ideas.
Please ensure you and your team members use the same email in this application for GitHub registration. If a GitHub account already exists, use that same email for your application.
Chekk Platform
Teams will use Chekk.dev for deployment. A workshop on Chekk tools will be provided during the hackathon. In the meantime, feel free to explore chekk.dev and get familiar with the platform.
Problem Statement
Come prepared with ideas about challenges facing Nigeria in your chosen focus area that AI can help solve.
How to Enter
Form Your Team
Assemble a team of 2–4 members. Designate a team captain who will handle registration and communication.
Apply Online
Click here to apply. Submit your team details, member information, preferred focus area, eligibility verification document, and three short essays.
Confirmation
After applying, look for an automated confirmation email as an acknowledgment of your team's entry.
Orientation
Teams selected from the first round will be invited to a virtual orientation session covering hackathon rules, expectations, tools, and resources to prepare for the sprint.
Sprint
This is where everything happens. Teams build, refine, and deploy their projects using agentic IDEs during the designated sprint period. The sprint culminates with project presentations, final judging, and the awards ceremony.
Questions?
If you encounter issues or have questions, reach out through any of these channels:
✉️ info@johnamhanesifoundation.org
@amhanesifoundation on Instagram
💼 The John Amhanesi Foundation on LinkedIn
While this competition is open to all eligible participants based on the above criteria, we also strongly encourage participation from individuals who identify as women, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and individuals experiencing any form of socioeconomic disadvantage. Though the above groups mentioned do not have any special preference, we aim to provide a platform for diverse voices and perspectives that are historically disadvantaged to enrich the innovation and impact of solutions built during the hackathon.