Wema Bank Announces November 6 for Hackaholics 7.0 Grand Finale, Unveils ‘Festival of the Future’

Wema Bank has announced November 6, 2026, as the date for the grand finale of its flagship innovation programme, Hackaholics 7.0, with this year’s event themed “Festival

The grand finale is expected to bring together technology leaders, startup founders, investors, innovators and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to celebrate creativity, technological advancement and emerging opportunities.

According to the bank, the event will feature innovation showcases, interactive experiences and discussions on how emerging technologies are transforming businesses, workplaces and everyday life.

Beyond announcing the winners and celebrating outstanding innovators, the festival is designed to provide a platform for participants to explore emerging technologies, connect with industry professionals and discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future.

Speaking on the initiative, Wema Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Moruf Oseni, said the Festival of the Future reflects the bank’s commitment to creating opportunities for Nigerians to actively participate in shaping the future.

Oseni noted that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies were transforming industries and creating opportunities that were previously unimaginable.

He said the initiative was designed to bring innovation closer to people, encourage meaningful conversations and inspire Nigerians to think differently about the future of work, business and technology.

The Wema Bank chief executive also reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting young innovators through Hackaholics, describing the initiative as more than a competition but a platform for discovering talent, developing ideas and connecting innovators with opportunities.

According to him, the programme seeks to provide young Nigerians with the resources, support and opportunities required to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges.

Hackaholics 7.0 was launched on July 1, 2026, under the theme “Powering Possibilities,” with a nationwide pitch centre tour aimed at identifying promising innovations from young Nigerians.

The four-month initiative attracted 5,329 participants and generated 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions across seven locations: Uyo, Kano, Yaba College of Technology, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos.

The programme featured three major categories: Ideathon, Hackathon and Social Impact.

While the Ideathon focused on developing promising ideas, the Hackathon provided opportunities for technology developers and builders to showcase their solutions. The Social Impact category, on the other hand, recognised innovations designed to deliver measurable benefits to society.

At the conclusion of the nationwide pitch tour, 59 participants emerged from the various centres and will proceed to the next stage of the competition.

The bank disclosed that the 59 participants would be further shortlisted to 20 finalists, who would present refined versions of their solutions during the Pre-Pitch scheduled for November 4.

On November 5, the participants will embark on an ecosystem tour organised by Wema Bank, providing opportunities to visit leading institutions within the technology and innovation sector, interact with industry professionals and gain practical insights ahead of the final event.

The programme will culminate on November 6 with the Festival of the Future, where outstanding innovators will be recognised and celebrated.

Through Hackaholics, Wema Bank continues to strengthen its support for entrepreneurship, youth empowerment and technological innovation, while providing a platform for young Nigerians to develop solutions that can contribute to national development.