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Wema Bank Opens Registrations to Participants Across Unlimited Verticals For HACKAHOLICS 5.0

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*Wema Bank Opens Registrations to Participants Across Unlimited Verticals For HACKAHOLICS 5.0

 

 

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s foremost innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has announced the verticals of focus for Hackaholics 5.0, the fifth edition of its youth-focused and campus-based hackathon, Hackaholics, charging Nigerian youth and innovators to explore these verticals and participate in the revolutionary hackathon.

Hackaholics, reputed as Africa’s largest campus-based ideathon, is a youth-focused tech competition that serves as a platform for innovators and Startup founders with tech-driven or tech-enabled ideas and products to bring their game-changing ideas to life, solve real-world problems and scale their ventures. Since its inception in 2019, Hackaholics has toured at least 37 universities across 4 African countries, amassing over 5,000 applications, disbursing at least $200,000 in grants and positively transforming thousands of lives and business ventures across Nigeria. The last edition, Hackaholics 4.0, saw young talented innovators win over N50,000,000 for their unique solutions across diverse verticals, including financial inclusion and health, among others. With a whopping N90,000,000 slated for Hackaholics 5.0, the wins have significantly multiplied—with a unique twist. While prior editions of Hackaholics have required participants to innovate under 9 key verticals, Hackaholics 5.0 has pushed the boundaries, expanding the range of verticals admissible.

Themed “MetaIdea: DigiTech Solutions for Africa’s Prosperity”, Hackaholics 5.0 has adopted an infinitely multi-vertical approach, allowing participants to develop innovative solutions not only under the verticals listed on the registration portal, but also across any other verticals at their disposal. This means that in addition to Education, Climate, CivicTech, Insurance, GovTech, Health, Gender-Based Violence, Financial Inclusion, Entertainment and FinTech, Hackaholics 5.0 participants are permitted to develop solutions across any other verticals beyond those listed, allowing for more diversity in the problem-solving approach and expanding the range of positive impact achievable through the Hackaholics platform. Young innovators with a knack for problem-solving and a drive for generating impact through tech-enabled solutions, are to simply submit their entries on the Hackaholics registration portal either choosing from the listed verticals or clicking “Others” to submit their entries under any other verticals not listed.

Expounding on the Bank’s intent for delimiting the verticals for Hackaholics 5.0, Solomon Ayodele, Wema Bank’s Head of Innovation, referenced the Bank’s commitment to constant innovation and its mission of empowering lives. “The theme for Hackaholics 5.0 is anchored on two principal factors—The Meta Idea and African Prosperity, and the general idea for this edition is to birth ideas that go above and beyond in solving prevalent problems in Africa towards the prosperity of the continent. It is only fitting that in engendering the creation of unique ideas that go beyond the regular, we also optimise the modalities to better accommodate these meta ideas and ‘beyond-regular’ solutions. The ultimate goal is to birth solutions that address diverse aspects of real-world challenges and expanding the range of verticals will only serve to further promote the achievement of this goal”.

“As Nigeria’s most innovative bank, we are committed to not only remaining beacons of innovation and positive impact in Nigeria, but also empowering other innovators and enabling innovation to thrive through every key player in this ecosystem; hence the birth of Hackaholics. Our focus for Hackaholics 5.0 is the brilliance of your mind so we leave it to you to discover a problem area that matters to us as Africans and develop a practical innovative solution across that vertical, that will drive positive impact for our continent. I encourage every young mind with creative ideas to leverage Hackaholics as a launchpad to the success of their innovations and Startups. All they need to do is register at hackaholics.wemabank.com and as always, we will be with them, all the way”, Ayodele concluded.

With N90,000,000 earmarked as the cash prize for Hackaholics 5.0, young innovators across the country can become Startup owners even as undergraduates and make their big break into the tech and innovation world.

To register for Hackaholics 5.0, submit your entry at hackaholics.wemabank.com

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Dangote Hails Tinubu on Impact of Crude for Naira Swap Deal

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Dangote Hails Tinubu on Impact of Crude for Naira Swap Deal

 

 

…As Dangote Refinery partners MRS to sell PMS at N935 per litre nationwide at its retail outlets

 

 

Sahara Weekly Unveils That The Foremost entrepreneur and President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the positive impact of the naira for crude swap deal on the Nigerian economy, which has led to reduction in prices of petroleum products in the country.

 

Dangote Hails Tinubu on Impact of Crude for Naira Swap Deal

 

To provide succour to Nigerians, Dangote recently reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N970 to N899.50 at its Refinery loading gantry and provided generous credit terms to marketers.

 

 

“To ensure that this price reduction gets to the end consumer, we have signed a partnership with MRS to sell petrol from its retail outlets nationwide at N935 per litre” he added. This price has already commenced in Lagos, and it will be offered nationwide from Monday.

 

 

In his statement, he called on other oil marketers such as the NNPC Retail and all other marketers, “to work with us to ensure that Nigerians enjoy high-quality petrol at discounted prices.”

 

 

According to him, “The Dangote Refinery is for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. We will therefore continue to work with various value chain players to deliver high quality petrol at cheaper prices. Our aim is for all Nigerians to have ready access to high quality petroleum products that are good for their vehicles, good for their health, and good for their pockets.

 

 

Recall that in September, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) under the leadership of Mr. President approved the sale of crude to local refineries in Naira and corresponding purchase of petroleum products in Naira. The move, which commenced on October 1, led to reduced pressure on the dollar and ensured the stability of the local currency.

 

 

Dangote thanked Nigerians for their unwavering support and the government for creating an enabling environment for the domestic refining industry.

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Port Harcourt Refinery Stays Active: NNPC Denounces Sabotage Rumors

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Port Harcourt Refinery Stays Active: NNPC Denounces Sabotage Rumors

NNPC Debunks Shutdown Rumors, Confirms Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational

 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed reports circulating in certain media outlets claiming that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, which was re-streamed two months ago, has been shut down.

In a statement released by Olufemi O. Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, the company clarified that the refinery is fully operational. The statement noted that the facility’s operational status was recently verified by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC during a site inspection.

“Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing,” the statement confirmed, emphasizing that allegations of the refinery’s shutdown are baseless and intended to create panic or artificial scarcity in the fuel market.

NNPC Ltd urged members of the public to disregard such misleading reports, labeling them as the work of those seeking to exploit Nigerians.

The Old Port Harcourt Refinery has been in operation since its re-streaming, and the company remains committed to ensuring stability in the supply of petroleum products across the country.

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Nigerian Banks Donate Multimillion Naira Relief Materials to Jigawa Flood Victims

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Nigerian Banks Donate Multimillion Naira Relief Materials to Jigawa Flood Victims

In a show of solidarity, the Committee of Banks in Nigeria has extended a helping hand to victims of the September 2024 floods in Jigawa State. On Thursday, a high-profile delegation led by Dr. Oliver Alawuba, Chairman of the Committee and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), visited Dutse, the state capital, to present relief materials to the state government.
The donated items, worth several million Naira, included essential food supplies such as rice and cooking oil, along with mattresses and beverages. Dr. Alawuba highlighted that the gesture aimed to alleviate the hardship faced by flood victims and support critical institutions, especially public hospitals, in their efforts to assist those affected.
“We stand in solidarity with the people and government of Jigawa State during this difficult time. This donation is our way of expressing empathy and supporting those who have lost loved ones, properties, and livelihoods,” Dr. Alawuba stated.
The delegation included notable banking leaders such as Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna of Access Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji of Zenith Bank Plc, and Dr. (Mrs.) Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe of Fidelity Bank Plc, among others. Their collective presence underscored the banking sector’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and national development.
Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi expressed profound gratitude for the donation, describing the visit as a rare and commendable act of compassion. He assured the delegation that the relief materials would be judiciously distributed to the intended beneficiaries, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in rebuilding lives and communities.
The Committee of Banks also reiterated their commitment to supporting Nigerians during emergencies, drawing attention to previous interventions, including relief efforts during the 2011 and 2013 floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, and security initiatives like the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.
This humanitarian gesture reflects the collective resolve of Nigeria’s financial institutions to foster social and economic growth, making a meaningful impact in times of need.
Nigerian Banks Donate Multimillion Naira Relief Materials to Jigawa Flood Victims

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