…Introduces 3 tracks, 7 Verticals, millions of naira in grant prizes

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous national bank, most innovative and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has announced the 7th edition of its flagship innovation initiative, Hackaholics. The announcement was made at the official press conference which took place on July 1, 2026, at the Wema Bank Head Office in Lagos, Nigeria. Launched in 2019, Hackaholics is Wema Bank’s youth and tech-focused initiative designed to serve as a platform for young Africans with creative, game changing, tech-driven ideas and products, to bring their ideas to life. Since its launch, Hackaholics has discovered thousands of groundbreaking solutions, supported over 10,000 startups, engaged 50,000 participants, developed over 100 solutions from scratch and disbursed $500,000,000 in grant prizes to dozens of winners whose remarkable solutions have earned a top spot in the past 6 editions. With the launch of Hackaholics 7.0, Wema Bank is set to execute the biggest Hackaholics edition yet.Themed “Powering Possibilities”, Hackaholics 7.0 will kick off with an open call for applications, calling on all young Africans with creative tech-driven solutions across any of the 7 verticals: Financial Inclusion, Healthcare, Digital Transformation, Education, Sustainability, Social Impact and Future of Work. Each application is to be made via the portal at hackaholics.wemabank.com, under one of three tracks: The Startup Pitch Competition, Hackathon and the newly introduced Social Impact track. Following the application window, Hackaholics 7.0 will then proceed on a national tour which will touch 10 pitch centres across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Each pitch centre will serve as a hub for innovators within the region to pitch their creative solutions and get the opportunity to secure the top spot in their pitch centre, and ultimately, proceed to the grand finale where the winners of Hackaholics 7.0 will be announced. Speaking on the Bank’s inspiration behind Hackaholics’ exceptional seven-year journey, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to powering innovation, empowering youth and promoting economic growth in Africa. According to him, “At Wema Bank, we believe that institutions have a responsibility that extends beyond providing commercial services. We have a responsibility to create meaningful opportunities, provide the right resources, enable innovation to thrive, and support the ecosystems that will shape today’s youth as well as tomorrow’s economy. This sense of responsibility is what has driven the evolution of Hackaholics from inception till date. With Hackaholics, we have, and we are investing in the next generation of innovators, inspiring innovation that will impact lives, strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and giving youth a platform to make meaningful use of their creativity; and the numbers continue to speak volumes”. Declaring the application window open, Tajudeen Bakare, Wema Bank’s Divisional Executive, Business Support, added, “As we launch Hackaholics 7.0 today, we are opening up a new phase of opportunities for more Nigerian youth to challenge themselves, explore their creativity and become startup founders. I encourage every young Nigerian with a passion for innovation to leverage the opportunity that we have carefully curated through Hackaholics and get ahead of the curve in today’s dynamic work landscape. Together, we can continue to build an ecosystem where innovation flourishes, opportunities expand, and young people are empowered to create solutions that shape the future”. Hackaholics 7.0 is free, and open to any Nigerian youth who has innovative ideas and solutions to pitch. Interested startups and innovators can apply at hackaholics.wemabank.com. All updates on the Hackaholics 7.0 journey will be made available on the Bank’s website @wemabank.com as well as its social media platforms @wemabank and @alat_ng.

London, United Kingdom – June 30, 2026: For many children, the biggest barrier to success is not talent; it is access. Across parts of Nigeria and other underserved communities, the absence of basic educational resources continues to limit what is possible for thousands of young people. Access Bank UK Polo Day has, over the years, positioned itself as a platform designed to address that gap.Scheduled for July 4, 2026, in Windsor, the event will convene a global audience of business leaders, philanthropists, royalty, and high-net-worth individuals. While it remains one of the most anticipated fixtures on the social calendar, its focus is clear: to mobilise resources and partnerships that support education for vulnerable children.What sets the Polo Day apart is how it converts visibility into impact. The event brings together a network of influence and directs it towards practical outcomes, funding classrooms, supporting learning programmes, and enabling children to stay in school.Through its collaboration with UNICEF and local partners, funds generated have supported education initiatives that target some of the most pressing challenges, including access to facilities, materials, and consistent schooling. These interventions have helped thousands of children continue their education despite economic and social barriers.The objective for 2026 is to extend this reach, raising more support and improving the scale and quality of interventions. At its core, the initiative is driven by a simple idea: that education should be accessible, regardless of circumstance.This year’s event will also host His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, as Special Guest of Honour. He will present the Emir’s Cup, adding a layer of heritage and continuity to the occasion.A respected figure in both sport and community leadership, the Emir represents a long-standing polo tradition in Nigeria, as well as a broader commitment to social development. His participation reflects the wider purpose of the event: connecting influence, legacy, and impact.Jamie Simmonds, Managing Director of Access Bank UK, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “This event is about using our platform to create access where it is most needed. By bringing together the right partners and supporters, we are able to deliver outcomes that can make a real difference in the lives of many children.”Over time, the Polo Day has evolved into more than an annual event. It has become a consistent channel for mobilising support and delivering measurable social impact, demonstrating how corporate platforms can be used to address real challenges.As preparations continue, the significance of the 2026 edition lies in what it enables. At the end of it all, the real outcome is simple: more children in school, more opportunities created, and better futures made possible.

Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, financial inclusion and entrepreneurship through a strategic partnership with the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalization Programme (YEIDEP), a Federal Government-backed initiative designed to equip young Nigerians with the skills, support and opportunities required to build sustainable livelihoods.As part of the collaboration, Fidelity Bank is supporting the enrolment of students and young people into the YEIDEP programme, which aims to address youth unemployment, promote enterprise development and expand economic participation among Nigeria’s growing youth population.The next phase of the initiative will take place at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where the institution has confirmed its readiness to host the enrolment exercise for students and youths across the Southeast region. According to the Office of the Vice Chancellor, the exercise is scheduled to hold from July 1 to July 3, 2026, at the University’s Convocation Arena and is expected to target more than 60,000 regular undergraduate students.Speaking on the partnership, Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc, noted that empowering young people remains central to the bank’s vision of building a more inclusive and prosperous society.”At Fidelity Bank, we believe that Nigeria’s greatest asset is its people, particularly its youths. Equipping young Nigerians with the right skills, opportunities and financial support is essential to unlocking their potential and accelerating national development.”Through our digital banking platforms, financial literacy initiatives, youth-focused products and strategic partnerships, we continue to provide young people with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive world. We recognize that access to funding, mentorship and business development support remains a major challenge for many aspiring entrepreneurs, and we are committed to creating pathways that help them overcome these barriers”, said Ede.The Bank added that its support for YEIDEP aligns with its longstanding commitment to empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, which remain critical drivers of economic growth and job creation in Nigeria.Interested youths and students are encouraged to open accounts and register through the dedicated Fidelity Bank portal at https://eserve.fidelitybank.ng/oap/?youth=true.