Wema Bank has announced November 6, 2026, as the date for the grand finale of Hackaholics 7.0, its flagship innovation programme, with this year’s event themed “Festival of the Future” to celebrate technology, creativity and emerging solutions shaping the future.
The grand finale is expected to bring together technology leaders, startup founders, investors, innovators and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem for a showcase of ideas and technologies with the potential to address real-world challenges.
According to the bank, the event will feature innovation showcases, interactive experiences and discussions on how emerging technologies are transforming the way people live, work, build businesses and create solutions.
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Beyond the traditional innovation competition, the Festival of the Future is designed to provide participants and attendees with opportunities to explore emerging technologies, discover innovative solutions, connect with industry professionals and discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by a rapidly changing world.
The event will also recognise outstanding innovators whose ideas demonstrate the potential to deliver meaningful social and economic impact.
Wema Bank Explains Inspiration Behind Festival of the Future
Speaking on the significance of the grand finale, Wema Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Moruf Oseni, said the concept reflects the bank’s commitment to creating opportunities and encouraging Nigerians to play an active role in shaping the future.
Oseni noted that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are transforming industries, businesses and everyday life, creating new opportunities that were difficult to imagine just a few years ago.
He explained that the Festival of the Future aims to bring innovation closer to people, encourage meaningful conversations and inspire fresh thinking about how society will live, work, build and create in the years ahead.
The Wema Bank chief executive also reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting young Nigerian innovators through Hackaholics, which has continued to evolve beyond a competition into a platform for discovering talent, nurturing ideas and connecting innovators with opportunities.
According to him, the initiative provides young Nigerians with access to the resources, support and opportunities needed to transform their ideas into practical solutions.
Oseni added that Hackaholics 7.0 would further strengthen this commitment by bringing together people, ideas and experiences capable of inspiring the next generation of innovative solutions.
Hackaholics 7.0 Attracts Over 5,300 Participants
Launched on July 1, 2026, under the theme “Powering Possibilities,” Hackaholics 7.0 began with a nationwide pitch centre tour aimed at discovering and supporting innovative ideas from young Nigerians across different regions of the country.
The four-month tour attracted 5,329 participants, who presented 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions across seven pitch centre locations: Uyo, Kano, Yaba College of Technology, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos.
The programme featured three tracks: Ideathon, Hackathon and Social Impact.
While the Ideathon focused on promising ideas, the Hackathon provided opportunities for technology developers and builders to present their solutions. The Social Impact track, meanwhile, recognised innovations designed to deliver measurable benefits to society.
Participants included students, graduates, technology enthusiasts, developers and social innovators working on solutions to challenges across various sectors.
At the conclusion of the nationwide tour, 59 participants emerged from the different pitch centres, reflecting the range of ideas and talent discovered during the programme.
20 Finalists to Emerge Ahead of Grand Finale
As the programme advances towards its final stage, the 59 participants will be shortlisted to 20 finalists, who are scheduled to present refined versions of their solutions at the Pre-Pitch event on November 4, 2026.
On November 5, participants will take part in an Ecosystem Tour powered by Wema Bank. The tour will provide opportunities to visit institutions within the technology and innovation ecosystem, interact with industry professionals and gain practical insights ahead of the grand finale.
The programme will culminate on November 6 with the Festival of the Future, where outstanding innovators will be recognised and celebrated.
Through Hackaholics, Wema Bank continues to position itself as a supporter of innovation, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment, providing opportunities for young Nigerians to develop ideas into solutions that can contribute to economic development.
The bank said its broader ambition is to build an ecosystem where innovation thrives, new possibilities emerge and Nigeria is better positioned to embrace future technological and economic opportunities.
