Wema Bank has unveiled 21 finalists for the seventh edition of its youth-focused technology and innovation programme, Hackaholics, ahead of the grand finale scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, in Lagos.
The finalists, selected from thousands of participants across the country, will compete for recognition and opportunities to advance their technology-driven solutions at the event themed *Festival of the Future*.
The grand finale is expected to bring together innovators, technology leaders, startup founders, investors and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to celebrate emerging ideas and explore opportunities in the country’s digital economy.
The 21 finalists 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, an initiative of Wema Bank, was established to provide young innovators with a platform to develop creative and technology-driven ideas into practical solutions to real-world problems.
The programme also seeks to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills, exposure and support required to compete in the global technology and digital economy.
Since its introduction in 2019, Hackaholics 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 commenced on July 1, 2026, attracted 5,329 participants and generated 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions across seven pitch-centre locations.
The centres were located in Uyo, Kano, YabaTech, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos, reflecting the bank’s effort to extend its innovation programme beyond the traditional technology hubs.
Following the nationwide exercise, 59 participants emerged from the various centres before 21 finalists were selected through a multi-stage evaluation process.
The selection process was designed to identify promising innovations with the potential to address practical challenges and contribute to economic and social development.
Activities leading to the grand finale will feature three days of engagements, providing the finalists with opportunities to improve their solutions, interact with industry professionals and gain exposure to the wider technology ecosystem.
On Wednesday, November 4, the finalists will participate in the Pre-Pitch session, where they will present refined versions of their solutions for assessment ahead of the final competition.
This will be followed by an Ecosystem Tour on Thursday, November 5, powered by Wema Bank. The tour will take participants to leading institutions within the technology and innovation ecosystem, where they will interact with industry professionals and gain practical insights into building and scaling technology businesses.
The programme will culminate in the grand finale on Friday, November 6, when outstanding innovators will be recognised and celebrated.
The choice of the theme, Festival of the Future, reflects the bank’s focus on emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and the role of young people in shaping the next phase of digital innovation.
For Nigeria, where youth unemployment, access to funding and the need for economic diversification remain major concerns, initiatives that connect young innovators with investors, mentors and established institutions could help create pathways for technology-based businesses.
Startups also face challenges relating to access to capital, market opportunities, technical expertise and the infrastructure required to develop and commercialise innovative products. Platforms such as Hackaholics seek to bridge some of these gaps by providing exposure and opportunities for promising entrepreneurs.
Through the initiative, Wema Bank said it remained committed to strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem by identifying emerging talent, creating opportunities for young innovators and supporting the development of solutions to real-world challenges.
The bank, which describes itself as Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank and the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, said Hackaholics reinforced its commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators and creating an environment where ideas could thrive and translate into practical solutions.
With 21 finalists now preparing for the grand finale, the seventh edition will provide another opportunity to showcase the capacity of young Nigerians to develop technology-driven solutions and participate in the country’s growing digital economy.
