By Ayomide Otitoju
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s trailblazer in innovative banking and creator of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has unveiled the 35 exceptional teams advancing to the grand finale of Hackaholics 5.0. The event, themed “Meta Idea: Catalyzing Africa’s Growth Through Innovation,” is set to take place on November 25, 2024, in Lagos.
Following rigorous pre-pitch events held across eight physical locations and one virtual pitch center, the finalists emerged with groundbreaking ideas spanning agriculture, finance, education, healthcare, sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
Finalist Teams
The finalists 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, and Scratop Nigeria Limited.
These teams will pitch their transformative Digi-Tech solutions to a distinguished panel of investors, industry leaders, and mentors. Competing for ₦75 million in prizes, the rewards are structured as follows:
Grand Prize Winner: ₦30 million
First Runner-Up: ₦20 million
Second Runner-Up: ₦15 million
Top Women-Led Team: ₦10 million
Wema Bank’s Commitment to Innovation
Expressing enthusiasm for the competition, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, emphasized the initiative’s significance:
“Hackaholics is a testament to Wema Bank’s commitment to fostering innovation and youth empowerment. These 35 finalists represent the future of Africa’s tech-driven transformation, and we are proud to provide a platform to bring their ideas to life. The Meta Idea theme challenges them to create solutions that harness Africa’s vast growth potential, and we look forward to celebrating their ingenuity at the grand finale.”
Showcasing Africa’s Innovation Potential
This year’s Hackaholics competition attracted thousands of applications from across Nigeria, underscoring the creativity and determination of young tech enthusiasts. The initiative inspires cutting-edge solutions to Africa’s challenges, driving digital transformation and advancing socio-economic progress.
Hackaholics has become a cornerstone for discovering and nurturing young talents, providing mentorship, networks, and resources to help winners scale their innovations globally.
The grand finale promises to be a landmark event, showcasing the transformative power of technology and entrepreneurship in shaping Africa’s future.
