Manny Ita –
Wema Bank has announced the admission of 10 Nigerian startups into the 2026 edition of its Hackaholics Accelerator Programme, marking an expansion of the bank’s flagship innovation initiative aimed at supporting emerging technology-driven businesses across the country.
The selected startups emerged from the top finalists of the Hackaholics 6.0 competition and represent a range of sectors including agritech, healthcare, financial technology and digital services. Among the ventures admitted into the accelerator are Farmslate, Ploy, Stocmed and MamaAlert, all of which were identified during the competition as having strong potential for growth and scalability.
The Hackaholics Accelerator Programme is designed to provide participating founders with mentorship, business advisory support and access to a wider ecosystem of investors and industry partners. Through the programme, the startups will receive structured guidance aimed at helping them refine their business models, strengthen their operational strategies and expand their market reach.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, said the initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s growing technology sector.
“Our goal is to move beyond the ideation stage and support founders in building viable, scalable businesses,” Oseni said while announcing the new cohort. “The accelerator is designed to provide them with the mentorship, technical guidance and ecosystem access required to transform innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises.”
According to the bank, the Hackaholics platform has grown significantly since its launch, evolving from a hackathon competition into a broader innovation ecosystem that identifies and nurtures high-potential startups from across Nigeria.
Officials of the bank noted that participants in the accelerator programme will benefit from direct engagement with experienced mentors, industry experts and venture capital networks, as well as opportunities to test and refine their products within real market environments.
The bank also disclosed that through the wider Hackaholics initiative, it has already disbursed more than $400,000 in funding to support young innovators and early-stage technology ventures across the country.
Oseni said the initiative forms part of the bank’s broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy by empowering entrepreneurs with the tools and support necessary to scale their solutions.
“We believe innovation is critical to economic growth,” he said. “By supporting these startups, we are not only helping founders build successful businesses but also contributing to the development of solutions that can address real challenges in our society.”
Industry observers say programmes such as the Hackaholics Accelerator are increasingly important as Nigerian startups seek access to funding, mentorship and partnerships capable of helping them navigate the competitive technology landscape and scale their innovations both locally and internationally.
