• … Set To Run The Bank’s Affairs For 24 Hours In An Unforgettable Children’s Day Experience

In a heartfelt celebration of 2025 Children’s Day, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has unveiled 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah as its One-Day Managing Director/CEO for May 27, 2025, as part of a special initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of Nigerian leaders. The memorable experience, which took place today, at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, Marina, spotlighted Wema Bank’s ongoing commitment to investing in the future even as it marks 80 remarkable years of legacy and impact.

Chiderije Mbah became the winner of the One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO initiative launched in May 2025, to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration. He was chosen after sharing a spirited video explaining his dream of leading a bank and his vision for making finance more fun and accessible for children. His entry, submitted through a social media challenge, stood out among dozens who applied to be in the position.

The One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO was the high point of a broader Children’s Day initiative by Wema Bank, which invited children across the country to participate in an online challenge. To qualify, children were asked to post a short video dressed in Wema colours and share the banking role they aspired to, while either holding or opening a Royal Kiddies Account (for ages 0–12) or an ALAT Xplore Wallet (for teenagers 13–17). The campaign blended fun with purpose, introducing thousands of young Nigerians to early financial education and the power of dreaming big.

On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Chiderije stepped into the spotlight at Wema Bank’s Lagos Headquarters, receiving a purple-carpet welcome and taking his seat at the helm of the bank for a day packed with leadership, learning, and excitement. Enjoying a full day of activities; from a guided tour of the head office to holding his own executive briefing session in the boardroom, he will also be addressing senior executives of the bank.

“This is the best day of my life,” said Chiderije Mbah. “Wema Bank made me feel important. I am learning so much about being a leader and how banking works. I’ll tell all my friends to open a Wema Bank Royal Kiddies Account so they can also start learning how to save and maybe one day, they can be MD too!”

Speaking on the initiative, Wema Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Moruf Oseni, said,

“Our 80th anniversary is a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going, knowing fully well that the future belongs to the young stars like Chiderije. Today’s activity is one of our ways of showing that we believe in the children, that we’re listening, and that we’re committed to helping them succeed financially, personally, and professionally all the way.”

This unforgettable experience reinforces Wema Bank’s vision of a future-ready Nigeria; one where financial inclusion starts early, and every child has access to tools, inspiration, and opportunities to thrive. As Wema bank celebrates eight decades of resilience and innovation, its gaze remains firmly fixed on the horizon, championing the dreams of tomorrow’s leaders, one child at a time.

• …Sets the stage for a future of more possibilities

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has officially marked the incredible milestone of its 80th anniversary on Friday, May 2nd, 2025.

Celebrated as Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, Wema Bank was founded on May 2nd, 1945, as Agbonmagbe Bank Limited; an institution that has now evolved from a single-branch operation aimed at empowering indigenous Nigerians into a formidable force that continues to blaze the trail in Nigeria’s banking and financial industry.

From bridging gaps in access to finance for underserved Nigerians to empowering businesses with insightful financial solutions and support, providing a platform for other industries to thrive and proactively delivering financial solutions tailored to the needs of every Nigerian, Wema Bank has built a legacy of impact for 8 decades. With millions of customers and global presence via 150+ branches and the ALAT App, Wema Bank continues to set the pace in customer-centric innovation and impactful banking.

Extending heartfelt gratitude to the Bank’s stakeholders, Moruf Oseni, the MD/CEO of Wema Bank reiterated the Bank’s commitment to continue going above and beyond in service of its customers in the decades to come. According to him, “Wema at 80 is a milestone that extends deeply into the very roots of the industry, the people and the nation. This is an 80-year-old bank that began to set the pace for indigenous businesses in the depths of colonial rule and has remained resolute in carrying on that mission since 1945, showing the world that ‘Nigerian-owned’ can last, and institutions can be agents of transformation in their own capacity. It’s a journey I am deeply proud of and I cannot celebrate alone”.

“I take this moment to express my sincerest gratitude to every person and institution that has played a part in Wema Bank’s success story. From our customers to shareholders, investors, partners to employees past and present, and every other stakeholder whose efforts run in the veins of this great Bank. We are Wema and I take this moment, on behalf of the Board and Management of the Bank, to reiterate our lifelong commitment to you. Wema Bank is built to last, Wema Bank is built for you and Wema Bank will never relent in delivering optimum value to you. It has been 80 years of impact, and as we look ahead to a future of limitless possibilities, our promise to you remains the same. We Are With You, All The Way!”, Oseni concluded.

Wema Bank’s 80th anniversary has taken the world by storm, with a major highlight being the Wema at 80 Gala Night scheduled to hold in Lagos at 6 p.m. on Friday May 2nd, 2025. Headlined by Afrobeats stars Davido and Wande Coal, Fuji legend Ayuba, vocal sensation Yinka Davies, 9ice and a star-studded lineup of celebrities, dignitaries and stakeholders; the night promises to be one for the books, convening 8 decades of generations in a glamorous ceremony themed ‘Timeless Elegance’.

Anyone can be a part of the Wema at 80 Gala Night by tuning in live at 7 p.m. to the Bank’s YouTube Channel as well as select national TV stations.

•  …Introduces Accelerator Program for Startups

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has announced the launch of Hackaholics 6.0, themed Beyond Algorithms: Engineering Disruptive Innovation, at a press conference held in Lagos.

The 6th edition of Hackaholics has been expanded to integrate both hackathon and ideathon formats, creating a dynamic platform where developers, designers, business strategists, and problem solvers can collaborate to tackle real-world challenges. With a strong focus on harnessing cutting-edge technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), Hackaholics 6.0 aims to drive transformative change across key industries such as education, healthcare, sustainable agriculture, and financial inclusion.

A key highlight of this edition is the introduction of the Wema Bank Accelerator Program, designed to address a critical gap in startup development—funding without strategic support. The program will serve as a launchpad for transformative ideas, providing mentorship, funding, and access to strategic networks to help startups scale successfully. In line with Wema Bank’s vision for continental growth, Hackaholics 6.0 will extend beyond Nigeria, with activations in key African tech hubs. This expansion supports the bank’s goal of fostering a pan-African innovation ecosystem, connecting talent to accelerate ideas, and positioning Wema Bank as a leader in shaping Africa’s digital future.

Moruf Oseni, Managing Director and CEO of Wema Bank, shared his vision for Hackaholics 6.0: “Hackaholics was created to empower Nigeria’s brightest minds to solve real-world problems and drive technological advancements. This year, as we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we are taking it a step further with Hackaholics 6.0. This edition is not just about solving problems; it’s about engineering disruptive innovation that will reshape industries and transform lives. To support this vision, we are introducing the Wema Bank Accelerator Program, a strategic initiative designed to provide startups with the tools, mentorship, and resources they need to scale and thrive. Hackaholics 6.0 is more than an event; it is a movement to empower the next generation of problem solvers and shape the future of Nigeria and Africa.”

Oseni also emphasized how innovators can participate: “We invite developers, designers, business strategists, and problem solvers from across Africa to join this transformative journey. Whether you are at the ideation stage or already have a market-ready solution, Hackaholics 6.0 and the accelerator program are designed to support you. Visit hackaholics.wemabank.com to apply and be part of this movement to engineer disruptive innovation that addresses real-world challenges and creates lasting impact.”

Ugonna Ginigeme, Co-Founder and CEO of Feegor and grand prize winner of Hackaholics 5.0, expressed his gratitude and excitement at the press conference: “We emerged the winner, The Meta Lord at Hackaholics 5.0. It was a very exciting moment. It still is a very exciting moment for us. At Feegor, we are not just building a Nigerian startup. We are building for the African market. We believe we will be number one. And we are super, super excited to have Wema Bank as a trusted partner for us. I would like to encourage everybody, every startup, every developer, and everybody who is focused and interested in building an amazing startup to apply. And I assure you that if you have Wema Bank as a partner, success is guaranteed.”

Since 2019, Hackaholics has empowered Nigeria’s brightest minds to solve real-world problems, driving technological advancements and supporting groundbreaking startups. As Hackaholics 6.0 kicks off, Wema Bank reaffirms its commitment to fostering problem solvers who will reshape Nigeria’s future and drive transformative change across Africa.