Wema Bank, Nigeria’s innovative leader in banking and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has officially announced the 35 exceptional teams advancing to the grand finale pitch of Hackaholics 5.0. The grand finale pitch is set to be held on November 25, 2024, in Lagos, themed “Meta Idea: Catalyzing Africa’s Growth Through Innovation.
After a series of competitive pre-pitch events at eight physical locations and one virtual pitch centre, 35 outstanding teams have emerged as top contestants. These teams represent diverse and impactful ideas, ranging from tech solutions in agriculture, finance, and education to innovations in healthcare, sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
The top contestants include Northino, Our Haven, Celia, Nadir, Nimsy Agro, Hebron Chain, Paystrait, DevMe, Preview, Coconoto, EduGaze, Dokia, Gbale Prime, Health 4 Moni, Digiland, Abinci, Unifi, CyclexAfrica, Airify, Kwab, Gnergy, University X, AI Teacha, Code Red, APISentry, Fegor, TrashCoin, Paywise, Pandascrow, Lexia AI, Bunce, Bloom Beauty, MyItura, Accede, Scratop Nigeria Limited.
The grand finale pitch will see these top contestants pitch innovative Digi-Tech solutions to a panel of esteemed investors, industry leaders, and mentors competing for ₦75 million worth of prizes. The prize structure includes a whopping ₦30 million worth of prizes for the grand prize winner, ₦20 million worth of prizes for the first runner-up, ₦15 million worth of prizes for the 2nd runner-up, and ₦10 million worth of prizes for the top women-led team.
Moruf Oseni, MD/CEO of Wema Bank, expressed his excitement about the competition’s impact:
“Hackaholics is a testament to Wema Bank’s commitment to fostering innovation and youth empowerment.” These 35 top contestants represent the future of Africa’s tech-driven transformation, and we are proud to provide them with a platform to bring their ideas to life. The Meta Idea theme challenges them to think beyond immediate solutions and focus on innovations that capitalize on Africa’s growth potential. We look forward to celebrating their ingenuity at the grand finale.”
This year’s Hackaholics competition received thousands of applications from across Nigeria, highlighting the creativity and determination of young tech enthusiasts. The competition has inspired groundbreaking solutions aimed at addressing Africa’s challenges and driving digital transformation. It underscores the role of technology and entrepreneurship in Africa’s socio-economic progress and remains a key platform for discovering and nurturing young talents, offering winners mentorship, networks, and resources to scale globally.
To attend the Hackaholics 5.0 grand finale and witness the next generation of innovators in action, register at https://hackaholics.wemabank.com/grandfinale.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
