LSETF Partners with Coven Works for its Maiden AI for Social Impact Hackathon

Lagos, Nigeria – 1st February 2025 – The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has partnered with Coven Works to launch its first AI Hackathon tagged “Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact”. This partnership reinforces LSETF’s commitment to fostering innovation and technological advancement in Lagos State. With this partnership, LSETF will provide workspace voucher support for 10 promising startups from the community, valued at Five Million Naira.

The Maiden AI for Social Impact Hackathon, a 2-Day event which took place on January 30th through 31st of January, brought together developers, data scientists, and AI enthusiasts to build cutting-edge solutions addressing real-world challenges across Health, Education, Security, Governance and Corporate Responsibilities, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving.

The hackathon received over 200 applicants and showcased 6 projects on the final day born out of our local nuances, with three outstanding teams emerging as winners. These teams developed cutting-edge solutions that have the potential to drive significant social impact:

Vital AID – An AI-driven healthcare platform designed to enhance diagnostics and patient care.
Plate AI – A smart meal planner utilizing adaptive learning and Generative AI to offer personalized nutrition recommendations.
LinguaCare – A solution aimed at bridging communication gaps, enabling seamless interactions between medical practitioners and patients from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

“We are excited to partner with Coven Works in creating opportunities for startups and tech talents in the AI space” said Oyindamola Egbeyemi, Director, Programmes and Coordination at LSETF. She added, “Through this partnership with Coven Works, we aim to empower more tech-driven entrepreneurs, foster AI adoption, and drive economic growth by supporting groundbreaking innovations. This is in alignment with LSETF’s Lagos Innovates Programme.”

Additionally, Mike Olukayode, the Product Lead at Coven Works, shared his excitement about witnessing innovation combined with impact over the course of two days. Reflecting on the experience, he stated: “I am amazed to see diverse solutions developed in just two days with passion and ingenuity by brilliant minds. It has been a privilege to lead and witness people innovate, create, and collaborate at this level. I can’t wait to see these groundbreaking solutions evolve into mainstream companies in the coming years.”

The winning teams will receive further mentorship and funding to refine their solutions for broader adoption. This hackathon marks the beginning of a series of initiatives by Coven Works aimed at bridging the skills gap, driving digital transformation, and positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI-driven innovation.

The Hackathon also attracted sponsorship from other strategic organizations supporting the tech eco-system including, Vesti, Payaza, PaidHR, Hello.CV, VampAI, Microsoft, Providus Bank, Resilience17 who contributed resources, mentorship, and financial backing to ensure the success of the event.

About Coven Works

Coven Works is dedicated to preparing individuals and businesses for the future of work through Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. By providing training, mentorship, and innovation-driven programs, we empower professionals and enterprises to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence for growth and transformation. Our mission is to bridge the skills gap, drive digital transformation, and create opportunities in the evolving global economy. The 2025 AI for Social Impact Hackathon is a game-changing opportunity for innovators looking to make an impact in AI. Interested participants and sponsors can learn more at www.gocovenworks.com/hackathon or write an enquiry to programs@gocovenworks.com.