OAU STUDENT FINANCE CLUB HOSTS PITCH 5.0 CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHTING AI AND THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN FINANCE

 THE AWO TIMES

Campus News | June 13, 2025



—


 OAU STUDENT FINANCE CLUB HOSTS PITCH 5.0 CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHTING AI AND THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN FINANCE

On the 13th of June, 2025, the student finance club at Obafemi Awolowo University , hosted its much anticipated conference – The Pitch 5.0 – INVEST, INCLUDE, INNOVATE – AI  & the future of African Finance: Unlocking Investment Potentials, Driving Inclusion & Empowering Growth. The conference took place at Oduduwa hall, on OAU campus, drawing aspiring entrepreneurs, industry mentors, and academic leaders to campus.

Now in its fifth edition, the event has become a cornerstone for showcasing student startups, fostering creative business ideas, and building a thriving culture of innovation within the academic community.

The event kicked off with an opening prayer, after which there was a melodious recitation of the Nigerian National Anthem and the OAU Anthem, setting a fitting tone for the event.

Moving forward, the speakers, panelists and sponsors of the conference were recognized. Wealthbridge, Comercio Partners, Lagos Commodities and future exchange, Afex Commodities Exchange, CFA Society Nigeria, Cardinalstone, Zedcrest Wealth were key sponsors of the conference. 

Hereafter, the president of the club , Adeshina Jubril, gave an opening remark, He welcomed everyone to the conference and urged them to be open minded.

One of the keynote speakers, Mr. Babatope Davies, Chief Operating Officer at Wealthbridge, gave the first speech. In his speech — Rewiring The Compass; How to navigate careers in a tech navigated world, Mr. Davies emphasised on tech and finance, He spoke a lot about the important role tech plays in finance. In his words " you must be multilingual, you must speak both the languages of finance and tech". He rounded up his speech urging the students to get interested in tech skills. 

The 2nd keynote speaker, Dr  Ifeanyi Jeremiah Ubah, Head of Research Investment at Comercio partners, delivered a keynote on how AI powers financial inclusion in Africa and the new opportunities it creates for entrepreneurs. He contrasted human and AI thinking, highlighting that while humans think critically and emotionally, AI analyzes data to reach conclusions. He warned that technological globalization is reducing employment in countries like Nigeria, and that AI’s rapid advancement—moving even faster than the internet—will fundamentally reshape economies. 

With over $1.5 billion invested in AI across Africa, the technology is already helping solve financial challenges like credit scoring, fraud prevention, and mobile banking. He emphasized that startups built by individuals using accessible AI tools, needing fewer people and less capital. Drawing on historical economic shifts and insights from Warren Buffett, he encouraged African entrepreneurs to start now, be bold, and embrace AI’s transformative power.

Also, there were two different panel discussions, with a lineup of distinguished panelists; including Mr Michael Ayodele, a first class Investment Banker, Mr Ade Jinadu; Product Marketing lead at Zedcrest Wealth and Co-founder of Gamer, Mr. Ajadi Abraham; a finance professional and investment analyst at Afex and Ms Nkechi Obi; Head Of Operations at LCFE.

The discussion was all about AI and the finance world. Each panelist gave their various opinions on the role of Artificial Intelligence in Finance, including the benefits and risks.

Each Speaker was given an honorary award to appreciate their presence. The presence of other guests from Wealthbridge capital partners, Comercio Partners and other companies were recognized. 

The highlight of the event was an exciting case study competition focused on the lithium industry, a critical sector for Africa’s emerging role in the global green energy economy. 

The competition featured five dynamic teams. After a series of intense presentations and rigorous evaluations, Team Catalyst emerged as the winner, impressing the judges with their comprehensive strategy and forward-thinking approach. They were awarded a prize of one hundred thousand naira. The competition not only showcased emerging talent but also sparked valuable conversations about Nigeria's future in this vital industry.

Pitch 5.0 once again proved to be a resounding success, inspiring students and industry leaders alike to harness technology and innovation for Africa’s economic transformation. As AI and emerging sectors like lithium gain momentum, the conference underscored the vital role Artificial Intelligence plays in Finance.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BehSlE-Iv0ojwjtFxJVQMJENWQwVLY4EGGciJTit488/edit



 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GREAT IFE STUDENT UNION PRO RAISES THE BAR WITH 'TUG OF WORDS' DEBATE COMPETITION

Image
  THE AWO TIMES Campus News | June 14, 2025 --- GREAT IFE STUDENT UNION PRO RAISES THE BAR WITH 'TUG OF WORDS' DEBATE COMPETITION  The Great Ife Student Union Public Relations Officer in conjunction with The Obafemi Awolowo University Literary and Debating Society, on Saturday, 14th of June 2025, hosted an inter-institution tournament —TUG OF WORDS – A British Parliamentary Tournament.  Held at Oduduwa hall in Obafemi Awolowo University. The tournament featured four great institutions namely: University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). The event commenced with an opening prayer, alongside a spirited recitation of the Nigerian National Anthem and Great Ife Anthem. Hereafter, the Public Relations Officer of the Great Ife Student Union, came on stage to give the opening remark. In his speech,  the Public Relations Officer, appreciated God for the ability to go this far and the hurdles he faced during his p...
Read more

Introducing The Awo Times

 Revolutionizing Information Dissemination - Awo Times. Awo Times, a pioneering information agency, has officially launched its operations to provide  dynamic coverage of news, events, and stories from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). This innovative platform aimes to redefine the information landscape of the university, offering a unique approach that combines print, broadcast, and digital media. Awo Times is specifically designed to cater to the diverse information needs of OAU students, staff, and faculty. The platform's multimedia approach ensures that users can access information through various channels, including: - Print: Awo Times blog providing in-depth coverage of campus news, features, and analysis. - Broadcast: Awo Times radio offering live broadcasts, podcasts, and video content on entertainment, news, and current affairs. - Digital: Awo Times website and social media platforms, providing real-time updates, breaking news, and interactive engagement. What sets Aw...
Read more

OAU Student Union Takes Action on Unpaid School Fees

  THE AWO TIMES Campus News | May 15, 2025 --- OAU Student Union Takes Action on Unpaid School Fees In a bid to address the growing financial challenges facing students, the Student Union of Obafemi Awolowo University has released a Google form to gather information on students who are yet to pay their school fees for the 2023/2024 academic session.   According to the memo released by the PRO, the form is aimed at gathering accurate statistics on affected students, as the academic session approaches its end. Many students have found themselves struggling to meet the financial demands of their tuition due to various economic pressures, and the union is stepping in to ensure that their voices are heard. By collecting this data, the student union aims to better understand the extent of the issue and potentially advocate for solutions from the, such as financial assistance. With the deadline for fee payments fast approaching, this measure is seen as a crucial step toward iden...
Read more