An Enugu-born Nigerian technology innovator, Tony Kabilan Okeke, is gaining international recognition after leading a team that developed Xploit, an automated cybersecurity platform designed to detect vulnerabilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems before they can be exploited by cybercriminals.
The 23-year-old developer, currently based in the United States, worked alongside fellow innovators Kamdi Okeke, Kiitan Fawole, Dalu Okonkwo and Michael Moemeke to create the solution. The five-member team consists of students and alumni of Drexel University.
The idea for Xploit was born during the "Start-Up In a Weekend" Hackathon organised by The Foundry and Velric in Philadelphia between November 21 and 23, 2025.
According to Tony, the rapid adoption of AI agents by businesses around the world has created new security challenges that require proactive solutions.
"As businesses increasingly deploy AI agents capable of performing tasks and using tools on behalf of customers, these systems can become attractive targets for cyber attackers," he explained.
Unlike traditional AI assistants, AI agents are capable of taking actions in real-world environments. This means that any weakness in such systems could have serious consequences beyond reputational damage.
To address this growing concern, the team developed Xploit as an automated digital attacker that tests AI systems for weaknesses before malicious actors can take advantage of them.
Tony played a key role in designing the platform's architecture and developing its initial user interface, which provides a visual representation of how the system analyses targets, plans attacks and executes security tests in real time.
Despite the pressure of the hackathon environment, the team successfully completed the project before the deadline and later presented it to judges, highlighting the increasing demand for affordable AI security tools, particularly among small and medium-sized businesses.
Their presentation impressed organisers to the extent that they requested access to the team's codebase and development records to confirm that the product had indeed been built during the competition period.
The effort paid off as the team emerged winners of the New Project Track, earning a cash prize of $1,500.
Reflecting on the achievement, team member Kamdi Okeke noted that the accomplishment was even more remarkable because the working prototype was developed in less than a full day of actual coding.
Competing against more than 100 creators and innovators in Philadelphia, the team transformed an idea into a functional product through careful planning and collaboration.
Building on their success, the developers later participated in the Venture Building Weekend hosted by United Effects Ventures from March 12 to 14, 2026.
Once again, Xploit stood out, emerging as the top project among 15 competing teams after undergoing extensive mentorship and market validation sessions with investors and startup experts.
Tony described the experience as a major milestone for the startup, noting that feedback from industry professionals helped the team refine both the product and its market positioning.
Industry mentors reportedly endorsed the team's approach to continuous AI security testing and recognised the growing need for solutions that can protect increasingly autonomous AI systems.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries worldwide, the achievements of Enugu-born Tony Okeke and his team demonstrate the growing impact of young Nigerian innovators on the global technology landscape.
