Wema Bank Announces November 6 for Hackaholics 7.0 Grand Finale, Unveils ‘Festival of the Future’ Theme
Wema Bank has announced November 6, 2026, as the date for the grand finale of its flagship innovation programme, Hackaholics 7.0, with the theme “Festival of the Future.”
The event is expected to bring together technology leaders, startup founders, investors, innovators and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to celebrate creativity, emerging technologies and innovative solutions shaping the future.
According to the bank, the grand finale will feature the announcement and recognition of outstanding finalists, innovation showcases, interactive experiences and discussions on how emerging technologies are transforming businesses, industries and everyday life.
Speaking on the initiative, Wema Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Moruf Oseni, said the Festival of the Future was inspired by the need to prepare Nigerians to actively participate in shaping the future amid rapid technological advancement.
Oseni noted that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies were creating unprecedented opportunities across different sectors, stressing the importance of equipping people with the knowledge and resources to take advantage of these developments.
He explained that Hackaholics had evolved beyond a conventional innovation competition into a platform for identifying talents, nurturing ideas and connecting young innovators with opportunities.
According to him, the bank remains committed to providing young Nigerians with the resources, support and opportunities required to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions.
Launched on July 1, 2026, under the theme “Powering Possibilities,” Hackaholics 7.0 commenced with a nationwide pitch centre tour aimed at discovering innovative ideas from young Nigerians across the country.
The four-month programme attracted 5,329 participants and generated 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions across seven pitch centres in Uyo, Kano, Yabatech, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos.
The programme featured three categories: Ideathon, Hackathon and Social Impact. While the Ideathon focused on developing promising ideas, the Hackathon provided opportunities for technology developers to showcase their solutions, and the Social Impact category recognised innovations designed to address societal challenges.
At the end of the nationwide exercise, 59 participants emerged from the various pitch centres.
The 59 successful participants will subsequently be shortlisted to 20 finalists, who will present refined versions of their solutions during the Pre-Pitch scheduled for November 4, 2026.
On November 5, the participants will embark on an Ecosystem Tour organised by Wema Bank to engage with leading institutions in the technology and innovation sector and gain practical industry experience.
The programme will climax on November 6 with the Festival of the Future, where outstanding innovators will be recognised and celebrated.
Wema Bank said the initiative underscores its continued commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, supporting innovation and empowering young Nigerians to contribute to national economic development.
