5,329 Participants, 1,632 Ideas Recorded As Innovation Competition Advances Towards Selection Of 20 Finalists
Wema Bank has announced November 6, 2026, as the date for the grand finale of Hackaholics 7.0, its flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme, with this year’s edition themed *“Festival of the Future.”*
The grand finale will bring together technology leaders, startup founders, investors, innovators and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem for an event focused on emerging technologies, creativity and the future of innovation.
The event will also feature the unveiling of the competition’s finalists, innovation showcases, interactive experiences and discussions on how emerging technologies are transforming businesses, industries and everyday life.
According to the bank, the Festival of the Future is designed to extend beyond a conventional innovation competition by creating opportunities for participants and attendees to experience new technologies, discover innovative solutions and connect with key players in the technology ecosystem.
Speaking on the concept behind the event, Wema Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Moruf Oseni, said the initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to preparing Nigerians to actively shape the future rather than simply respond to technological changes.
He noted that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies were rapidly transforming industries, businesses and everyday activities, creating opportunities that require greater innovation and preparedness.
“The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming industries, businesses and everyday life, creating opportunities that would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago.
“The question is no longer simply what the future holds, but how prepared we are to shape it.
“This thinking inspired the Festival of the Future. We want to create an experience that brings innovation closer to people, encourages meaningful conversations and challenges us to think differently about how we will live, work, build and create in the years ahead,” Oseni said.
The Wema Bank chief executive further explained that Hackaholics had evolved beyond a competition into a platform for identifying young talents, nurturing innovative ideas and connecting entrepreneurs with opportunities.
He said the bank remained committed to providing young Nigerians with the resources, support and platforms required to transform creative ideas into practical solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges.
Launched on July 1, 2026, under the theme *“Powering Possibilities,”* Hackaholics 7.0 began with a nationwide pitch centre tour aimed at discovering innovative ideas from young Nigerians across different parts of the country.
The four-month initiative attracted 5,329 participants and generated 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions, with pitch centres established in seven locations: Uyo, Kano, Yaba College of Technology, 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 and innovators to build practical solutions. The Social Impact category, meanwhile, recognised initiatives designed to address societal challenges and deliver measurable benefits to communities.
At the end of the nationwide tour, 59 participants emerged from the various pitch centres and will proceed to the next stage of the competition.
The 59 participants are expected to be further screened to produce 20 finalists, who will present refined versions of their solutions at the Pre-Pitch scheduled for November 4.
On November 5, participants will embark on an Ecosystem Tour organised by Wema Bank, offering them 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.
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank and the institution behind ALAT, Africa’s first fully digital bank, said Hackaholics remains central to its efforts to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and empower young people to contribute to economic development.
With thousands of participants and more than 1,600 ideas recorded in the latest edition, Hackaholics 7.0 is positioning itself as a platform for discovering emerging Nigerian talents and connecting innovative thinking with opportunities for growth and impact.
