Nigerian Innovator Michael Monwuba Helps Lead Microsoft Hackathon Winning Project to Global Success

Nigerian-born technology professional Michael Monwuba has proudly put Nigeria on the global innovation map with his pivotal role in the project that won the top prize at Microsoft’s 2022 Global Hackathon — the world’s largest private hackathon.

The winning solution is a secure, remote family tech-support app designed to help people provide safe and simple technology support to their loved ones, no matter the distance. Monwuba, who works with Microsoft’s Audit team, applied his expertise in privacy and security to design safeguards that make the app trustworthy and user-friendly. These include automatically canceling unanswered support requests and giving device owners full control to revoke access at any time.

For Monwuba, this achievement is deeply personal. Growing up in Nigeria, he became his family’s go-to “tech support” after teaching himself programming at a young age. His journey from helping his father with computers in Nigeria to winning Microsoft’s highest Hackathon honor demonstrates the power of African innovation on the global stage.

“This project was close to my heart,” Monwuba said. “I wanted to help my dad and families like ours, but I also wanted to make sure security and privacy were never compromised. Winning this award shows that Nigerian talent can solve global problems.”

The Microsoft Hackathon, which attracts over 68,000 participants across 89 countries, celebrates creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Monwuba and his teammates’ project stood out from more than 10,000 entries and will be reviewed by Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella for further development.

This victory shines a spotlight on Nigeria’s growing influence in global technology, inspiring young innovators across Africa to see their stories and skills as part of the world’s solutions.

About Microsoft’s Global Hackathon
Since its inception in 2014 by CEO Satya Nadella, the Hackathon has been a platform for Microsoft employees worldwide to create solutions that address real human needs. Winning projects often influence Microsoft products and impact millions of lives around the world.