Interswitch Takes Campus Innovation Programme to EKSU, Lead City University, LAUTECH

Interswitch Group is expanding its campus innovation programme to three more Nigerian universities, seeking to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical problem-solving in the digital economy.

The company said its Discovery Series, launched in 2024 under the #SwitchAFuture initiative, will visit Ekiti State University from October 28 to 30, followed by Lead City University, Ibadan, from November 18 to 20, and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, from November 26 to 28.

The expansion will provide students with opportunities to develop practical solutions to real-world challenges through entrepreneurship training, design thinking, collaborative innovation and technology-driven problem-solving.

Abdul-Hafiz Ibrahim, Chief Technology Officer of Interswitch, said the initiative was driven by the need to equip young Africans with the knowledge, skills and platforms to translate their ideas into impactful solutions.

“The future of Africa will be shaped by the ideas, ingenuity and determination of its young people. At Interswitch, we believe that talent becomes truly transformative when it is given the opportunity, knowledge and platforms to turn ideas into solutions,” Ibrahim said.

He described the Discovery Series as a bridge between students’ imagination and their capacity to develop workable innovations.

He said the three-day programme features entrepreneurship workshops, design thinking, human-centred design sessions, a hackathon and a grand pitch, during which participants identify community challenges and develop solutions in teams.

Winning teams stand a chance to receive prizes, while some innovations may progress to further development within Interswitch’s innovation ecosystem.

Since its launch at Babcock University in 2024, the programme has expanded to several institutions, including Landmark University, Cosmopolitan University, Redeemer’s University, Covenant University and Afe Babalola University. It has also extended beyond Nigeria through engagement with students from Epitech University in Benin.

The expansion comes as businesses increasingly seek technology skills, entrepreneurial thinking and practical experience from graduates entering a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Through the initiative, Interswitch aims to expose students to industry expertise while providing a structured environment in which they can test ideas, work across disciplines and develop solutions beyond the classroom.

The company said it would continue expanding the programme across higher institutions, with a focus on nurturing young innovators and strengthening Africa’s pipeline of future problem-solvers.