Wema Bank Drives Youth Innovation Across Nigeria with Hackaholics 6.0

Wema Bank Drives Youth Innovation Across Nigeria with Hackaholics 6.0

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative financial institution and the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has continued to champion youth empowerment and technological advancement through its flagship ideathon and hackathon series, Hackaholics 6.0.

The 2025 edition of the initiative has made impactful stops across four major Nigerian cities — Akure, Zaria, Ibadan, and Lagos — engaging students and young innovators from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA); Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; the University of Ibadan (UI); and Purple Academy, Lagos.

With over 3,000 entries received so far, hundreds of participants in each city benefited from hands-on training sessions, mentorship programmes, and industry-led masterclasses. For four days at each location, participants worked in teams to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges, culminating in high-energy final pitch sessions where outstanding ideas were selected.

At every stop, three winning Ideathon teams — including at least one women-led group — and two Hackathon teams earned invitations to the forthcoming Hackaholics 6.0 Grand Finale, where they will compete for funding and support to scale their ideas through Wema Bank’s innovation ecosystem.

Speaking on the initiative, Wema Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Moruf Oseni, said:

> “Hackaholics has always been about more than technology. It’s about empowering young people to think differently, create boldly, and provide solutions that can move our industry and nation forward. The creativity and innovation we’ve seen so far affirm our belief in the potential of Nigeria’s youth to shape the future.”

Since its inception in 2019, Hackaholics has grown into one of Nigeria’s largest innovation platforms, attracting over 12,000 applicants from 15 universities. The programme has disbursed more than $300,000 in funding, including ₦75 million specifically awarded to women-led teams between 2023 and 2024.

As Hackaholics 6.0 continues its nationwide tour ahead of the Grand Finale, Wema Bank remains steadfast in its mission to nurture the next generation of innovators, providing them with the tools, mentorship, and funding they need to transform their ideas into viable ventures.

Interested students and young entrepreneurs can visit https://hackaholics.wemabank.com for details on how to participate and submit entries.