4 Online Hackathons That Are Accessible to Nigerian Devs
Whether you're a newbie or a tough developer, hackathons offer a platform to challenge yourself and learn new technologies.
The tech world is full of opportunities, and hackathons, aside from being a way to win cash prizes, are one of the best ways to showcase your skills and network with top dogs in the industry as developers, designers, and innovators.
The best part is that many of these competitions are completely online, meaning you can participate from anywhere in Nigeria; all you need is an internet connection and a great idea.
Whether you're a newbie or a tough developer, hackathons offer a platform to challenge yourself, learn new technologies, and potentially land mentorship or funding for your projects. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the top online hackathons open to Nigerians, along with key details on how to participate.
1/ Adobe Express Add-ons Hackathon
If you're passionate about design, AI, or web development, the Adobe Express Add-ons Hackathon is a great opportunity to create and compete for a share of $30,000 in cash prizes.
The challenge is simple but exciting. All you have to do to get in is pitch your idea for an Adobe Express Add-on in a 3-minute video, demonstrating how it works and why it would benefit users.
Winners not only earn cash but also get mentorship from Adobe’s team and a chance to have their project featured in the Adobe Developers Blog. The application ends in 21 days (July 16, 2025). If you're interested, now’s the perfect time to draft your pitch and submit your entry.
2/ Compound Connect Global Hackathon
For Nigerian developers interested in blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi), the Compound Connect Global Hackathon challenge comes with $3,000 in prizes up for grabs.
The hackathon is beginner-friendly. Whether you're new to DeFi or an experienced blockchain developer, you'll get access to documentation, mentorship from industry experts, and weekly workshops to guide you through the process.
To enter, you'll need to submit:
- A project description explaining what your DeFi solution does and how it uses Compound
- A 3-5 minute demo video showing your app in action
- A public GitHub repository with clear setup instructions
- Proof that your project integrates with Compound's technology
With 25 days remaining until the July 19 deadline, you can get a team, quickly gather ideas, and start building.
3/ Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025
The Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025 offers $20,000 in prizes for breakthrough technologies that thrive under constraint, like low-power AI, offline-first systems, or energy-efficient computing.
The competition is organized by Future Africa in collaboration with CcHub, Ilorin Tech Hub, and IHS, with the intention of gathering resourceful solutions across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, fintech, and smart cities.
Your submission should include a working prototype, a detailed project report, and a 2-minute demo video explaining your innovation. If you're a winner, you gain more than just funding; you receive mentorship, investor access, and media exposure to scale your ideas.
With 37 days left until the July 31 deadline, this is your chance to put yourself out there as an innovator in Africa.
4/ RevenueCat's World Paywall Speed Building Championships 2025
If you're a mobile developer who loves challenging challenges, the RevenueCat Paywall Speed Building Championships brings in a blend of competition and creativity, with $5,000+ in prizes and a shot at global recognition.
For this hackathon, you’ll race to recreate paywalls using RevenueCat’s platform, with pixel-perfect precision. The competition is in three phases:
- Submission Round (June 8 - July 21): Record yourself building a paywall as fast as possible.
- Livestream Qualifiers (August 12): Top 20 competitors battle in real-time.
- Finals in NYC (October 14): The top 5 finalists get an all-expenses-paid trip to compete live on stage at App Growth Annual 2025.
The winners take home cash, a custom championship belt, and even a Times Square billboard feature.
Conclusion
From Adobe’s design challenge to Compound’s DeFi hackathon, Africa’s deep tech competition, and RevenueCat’s speed showdown, you have no shortage of opportunities to test your skills and win big as a Nigerian tech developer.
Each of these events offers something different, whether it’s cash prizes, mentorship, investor access, or global exposure. The best way to grow as a developer is to jump into the field and compete. Pick a hackathon that excites you, push your limits, and who knows, you might just walk away with funding or a career-changing opportunity.
