Wema Bank Unveils 21 Finalists for Hackaholics 7.0 Grand Finale in Lagos
Wema Bank has announced the 21 finalists who will compete at the grand finale of its Hackaholics 7.0 innovation programme scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, in Lagos.
The grand finale, themed Festival of the Future, is expected to attract innovators, technology leaders, startup founders, investors and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem for a celebration of technology, creativity and innovation.
The 21 shortlisted startups are Dynalimb, Harthiq, Acceede, Vhorde, URI, Trarrk, SocialSign, RaverPay, All-Arbitrates, CitizensGage, Craft-Planet, FOID, PayByPalm, Niteonn, Nexa-AI, Neural-Forge, MamaAlert, JolliFlow, Becca, CropiQ and Middleman.
Hackaholics is a youth and startup development initiative established by Wema Bank to help young innovators transform creative and technology-driven ideas into practical solutions to societal challenges while positioning them for opportunities in the global digital economy.
Since its introduction in 2019, the programme has attracted more than 21,000 applicants, engaged over 50,000 participants, supported more than 10,000 startups across three countries and facilitated the development of over 100 solutions from scratch.
The seventh edition, which began on July 1, 2026, recorded 5,329 participants and generated 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions across seven pitch centres in Uyo, Kano, YabaTech, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos.
Following the nationwide activities, 59 participants emerged from the different centres before the final selection process produced the 21 finalists through a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation.
Activities for the grand finale week commenced with a Pre-Pitch session on Wednesday, November 4, where the finalists will present improved versions of their innovations.
The programme will continue on Thursday, November 5, with an Ecosystem Tour powered by Wema Bank. The tour will expose participants to leading institutions in the technology and innovation sector, providing opportunities to interact with industry professionals and gain practical experience ahead of the final competition.
The activities will climax on Friday, November 6, with the grand finale, where exceptional innovators will be recognised and celebrated.
Wema Bank said Hackaholics reflects its continued commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem through talent discovery, opportunities for young entrepreneurs and support for technology-based solutions to real-world problems.
The initiative also reinforces the bank’s commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators and creating an environment where innovative ideas can grow into impactful solutions.
