Wema Bank has officially launched the 7th edition of Hackaholics, its flagship innovation initiative, calling on young Africans to submit tech-driven solutions across seven verticals with substantial grant prizes
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous national bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank ALAT, on Tuesday, 1 July 2026, announced the 7th edition of its flagship youth and tech innovation programme, Hackaholics.
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The announcement was made at a press conference held at the bank’s head office in Lagos. Launched in 2019, Hackaholics has grown into one of Nigeria’s most impactful innovation platforms, discovering thousands of solutions, supporting over 10,000 startups, engaging 50,000 participants, developing more than 100 solutions and disbursing $500 million in grant prizes across previous editions.
Themed “Powering Possibilities”, Hackaholics 7.0 will feature three tracks: the Startup Pitch Competition, Hackathon, and a new Social Impact track.
Applications are now open across seven verticals: Financial Inclusion, Healthcare, Digital Transformation, Education, Sustainability, Social Impact and Future of Work. Interested participants can apply at hackaholics.wemabank.com.
The programme will include a national tour touching 10 pitch centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with top talents advancing to the grand finale.
Wema Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Moruf Oseni, emphasised the bank’s commitment to youth empowerment and ecosystem development.
“At Wema Bank, we believe that institutions have a responsibility that extends beyond providing commercial services.
We have a responsibility to create meaningful opportunities, provide the right resources, enable innovation to thrive, and support the ecosystems that will shape today’s youth as well as tomorrow’s economy,” Oseni said.
Divisional Executive, Business Support, Tajudeen Bakare, encouraged young Nigerians to seize the opportunity.
“As we launch Hackaholics 7.0 today, we are opening up a new phase of opportunities for more Nigerian youth to challenge themselves, explore their creativity and become startup founders,” he stated.
Hackaholics 7.0 is free and open to Nigerian youth with innovative ideas. Updates will be available on Wema Bank’s website and social media platforms.
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The initiative continues to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and position young talents as drivers of economic growth.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
