Wema Bank has set November 6 for Hackaholics 7.0 Grand Finale and unveiled ‘Festival of the Future’ Theme.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Wema Bank has announced November 6, 2026, as the date for the grand finale of the seventh edition of its flagship innovation programme, Hackaholics, with this year’s event themed “Festival of the Future.”
The grand finale will bring together technology leaders, startup founders, innovators, investors and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem for a celebration of ideas, emerging technologies and solutions shaping the future.
According to the bank, the event will feature innovation showcases, interactive experiences and conversations examining how emerging technologies are transforming the way people live, work, build and create.
Beyond the announcement of this year’s Hackaholics finalists, the Festival of the Future is designed to provide participants with opportunities to explore emerging technologies, discover innovative solutions and connect with key players in the technology and business sectors.
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The event will also recognise outstanding innovators whose ideas demonstrate the potential to address real-world challenges and create meaningful impact.
Speaking on the inspiration behind the theme, 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.
“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,” Oseni said.
He explained that the Festival of the Future would bring innovation closer to people, encourage meaningful conversations and challenge participants to rethink how they would live, work, build and create in the coming years.
Oseni also reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting young Nigerian innovators, noting that Hackaholics had evolved beyond a competition into a platform for discovering talent, nurturing ideas and connecting innovators with opportunities.
“Since we launched Hackaholics, our goal has remained consistent; to provide young Nigerians with the platform, resources, opportunities and support they need to transform their ideas into practical solutions. We believe that the future of innovation in Nigeria must be driven by the talent, creativity and potential of our people,” he said.
He added that the seventh edition would expand the programme’s impact by bringing together people, conversations and experiences capable of inspiring the next generation of solutions.
Launched on July 1, 2026, under the theme “Powering Possibilities,” Hackaholics 7.0 began with a nationwide pitch centre tour aimed at identifying and supporting innovative ideas from young Nigerians across different parts of the country.
The four-month tour attracted 5,329 participants and generated 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions. Pitch centres were hosted in seven 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 developing promising ideas, the Hackathon provided a platform for technology developers and builders to present solutions. The Social Impact track recognised innovations designed to deliver measurable benefits to society.
At the end of the nationwide tour, 59 participants emerged from the various pitch centres.
The 59 participants will be further shortlisted to 20 finalists, who are expected to present refined versions of their solutions at the Pre-Pitch scheduled for November 4, 2026.
On November 5, participants will embark on an Ecosystem Tour powered by Wema Bank, providing opportunities to visit leading institutions within the technology and innovation ecosystem, 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.
Through Hackaholics, Wema Bank continues to position itself as a supporter of innovation and entrepreneurship, providing young Nigerians with opportunities to develop ideas, build practical solutions and contribute to economic development.
