…Introduces Three Competition Tracks, Seven Innovation Verticals, and Multi-Million Naira Grant Pool
Picnews
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous financial institution and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has announced the 7th edition of its flagship innovation programme, Hackaholics. The announcement was made at an official press conference held on July 1, 2026, at the Bank’s Head Office in Lagos, Nigeria.
Launched in 2019, Hackaholics is Wema Bank’s youth- and technology-focused innovation initiative, designed to provide a platform for young Africans with creative, transformative, and tech-driven ideas to develop and scale their solutions. Since inception, the programme has identified thousands of innovative solutions, supported over 10,000 startups, engaged more than 50,000 participants, facilitated the development of over 100 solutions, and awarded $500,000 in grants to outstanding winners across its previous six editions. With the introduction of Hackaholics 7.0, the Bank aims to deliver its most impactful edition yet.
Themed “Powering Possibilities,” Hackaholics 7.0 will commence with a call for applications from young Africans presenting innovative solutions across seven key verticals: Financial Inclusion, Healthcare, Digital Transformation, Education, Sustainability, Social Impact, and the Future of Work. Applications will be submitted via the official portal, hackaholics.wemabank.com, under three distinct tracks: the Startup Pitch Competition, the Hackathon track, and a newly introduced Social Impact track.
Following the application phase, the programme will proceed on a nationwide tour across 10 pitch centres spanning Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Each centre will serve as a regional hub where innovators will present their solutions for a chance to emerge as winners at the regional level and advance to the grand finale, where the overall winners of Hackaholics 7.0 will be announced.
Speaking on the initiative’s seven-year journey, Wema Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Moruf Oseni, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to fostering innovation, empowering young people, and driving economic development across Africa. He stated that Wema Bank continues to see Hackaholics as a strategic investment in the next generation of innovators and a catalyst for strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Also speaking, Tajudeen Bakare, Divisional Executive, Business Support, announced the official opening of the application window, encouraging young Nigerians with innovative ideas to take advantage of the opportunity. He emphasized that Hackaholics 7.0 is designed to inspire creativity, nurture entrepreneurship, and position participants for success in an evolving global economy.
Hackaholics 7.0 is free and open to all Nigerian youths with viable innovative ideas and solutions. Interested participants can apply via hackaholics.wemabank.com, while updates on the programme will be available on the Bank’s official website, wemabank.com, and social media platforms @wemabank and @alat_ng.
