As the world celebrates 2025 Children’s Day, Wema Bank, Nigeria, has unveiled 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah as its One-Day Managing Director/CEO for May 27, 2025.
This is part of the financial institution’s unique initiative aimed at grooming the future generation of Nigerian leaders.
The memorable experience, which happened today at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, Marina, re-emphasised Wema Bank’s unwavering readiness to invest in the future, and it was achieved as it marked 80 remarkable years of legacy and impact.
Chiderije emerged winner after uploading a spirited clip detailing his dream of leading a bank and his vision for making finance more accessible for kids like him. His video, submitted amid a WEMA Bank social media challenge, was excellent enough to be singled out among other entries from children seeking the same coveted position for 24 hours.
The One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO was the highlight of a broader Children’s Day initiative by Wema Bank, which invited kids from across Nigeria to partake in an online challenge. To qualify, Nigerian kids were tasked to share a short video of themselves dressed in Wema colours while revealing the banking role they admire the most. The children also had to own or open a Royal Kiddies Account (for ages 0–12) or an ALAT Xplore Wallet (for teenagers 13–17) to be eligible.
The campaign combined fun with education as the smart kids were introduced to useful financial education and the power of having big dreams.
Chiderije arrived to a grand purple-carpet welcome at Wema Bank’s Lagos Headquarters today, May 27, 2025, and the 12-year-old boy was ushered in by employees to sit in the MD’s seat and oversee the affairs of the bank for the next 24 hours. It has been a day filled with memorable activities for the young man as he enjoyed a tour of the head office, held his own executive briefing session in the boardroom, and even addressed senior executives of the bank.
“This is the best day of my life. Wema Bank made me feel important. I am learning so much about being a leader and how banking works. I’ll tell all my friends to open a Wema Bank Royal Kiddies Account so they can also start learning how to save and maybe one day, they can be MD too!” he said.
The commendable initiative reiterates Wema Bank’s futuristic vision for Nigeria that grants every Nigerian child smooth access to the tools and opportunities they require to progress in life. As the financial institution marks 8 long decades of excellence and innovation, it remains focused on fulfilling the dreams of the future generation, one child at a time.
“Our 80th anniversary is a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going, knowing fully well that the future belongs to the young stars like Chiderije. Today’s activity is one of our ways of showing that we believe in the children, that we’re listening, and that we’re committed to helping them succeed financially, personally, and professionally all the way,” Wema Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Moruf Oseni, added.
