Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank, has continued to empower young tech innovators through Hackaholics 6.0, a flagship campus ideathon that’s toured four Nigerian cities, engaging top minds from FUTA, ABU Zaria, UI, and Purple Academy Lagos, to drive transformative solutions to real-world problems.
With over 3,000 entries submitted so far, at each location, hundreds of students and young entrepreneurs gathered to receive industry-led masterclasses, and develop ideas aimed at solving challenges in the ecosystem. For four days in each location, participants were immersed in the full Hackaholics experience, from ideation to mentorship to pitch readiness, culminating in high-energy final pitches where the best ideas emerged. In every location, three Ideathon winning teams; including one women-led group and two Hackathon teams walked away with invitations to compete at the Hackaholics 6.0 Grand Finale. These teams now stand a chance to scale their solutions with the backing of Wema Bank’s innovation ecosystem.
Moruf Oseni, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, emphasized the significance of Hackaholics, stating, “Hackaholics is about empowering young people to think differently, create boldly, and contribute solutions that can drive progress in our industry and nation. The talent and creativity we’ve seen so far are truly impressive, and we’re committed to investing in this programme to help shape the future of financial services and beyond.”
Since its launch in 2019, Hackaholics has grown into a cornerstone of youth engagement and innovation in Nigeria. With over 12,000 applicants from 15 schools, and a total of over $300,000 disbursed in funding, including ₦75 million awarded to women-led teams between 2023 and 2024, the program has consistently delivered on its mission to create a vibrant ecosystem where students, innovators, and early-stage founders can collaborate, learn, and grow while building long-term relationships with Wema Bank.
As the Hackaholics 6.0 train continues its journey to more cities before the Grand Finale, Wema Bank remains committed to empowering the next generation of Nigerian innovators. Students and young entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit https://hackaholics.wemabank.com/ for more information on how to participate and submit their entries.
