By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Momentum is already gathering for the 2023 edition of Hackaholics Digital Summit organised by Wema Bank Plc, owners of the foremost digital lending firm, ALAT by Wema.
The event is dubbed Africa’s largest gathering of innovators, disruptors, regulators, policymakers, investors & customers in the digital space.
A statement from the bank disclosed that this year’s programme will take place in Lagos on Friday, October 6, with attendance by invitation only, though interested customers and technology enthusiasts can secure a spot by registering at https://hackaholics.wemabank.com/digital-summit.
The theme, according to the organisers, is Re-Imagine: Disrupting the Ecosystem for Scale, and will produce winners of Hackaholics 4.0 from contesting teams showcasing their innovations.
The winning team will receive a grant of N10 million worth of prizes; the first runner-up will go home with N7 million worth of prizes, the second runner-up will get N5 million worth of prizes, and a special N3 million grant reserved exclusively for a female-led team, with a N15 million grant to be allocated to university STEM endowment.
It was disclosed that the summit would further encompass an array of simultaneous master classes, providing attendees with the opportunity to witness the emergence of Africa’s technological future while gaining invaluable insights from renowned experts.
These masterclasses will delve into topics such as The Future of Financial Services, Venture Capital and Funding Viable Innovation for Scale, and Strategic Technology for Impact and Societal Change: Transforming Today and Tomorrow’s World.
The event is expected to serve as a hub for sharing cutting-edge insights, trends, and best practices in the tech industry towards the positive transformation of technology and innovation not just in Nigeria but across the African continent.
Recall that in 2019, Wema Bank introduced Hackaholics, a dedicated initiative targeting youth and startups. Its mission is to provide a stage for entrepreneurs and innovators with transformative, tech-driven concepts to bring their ideas to fruition and refine their skills.
The 4th edition of Hackaholics, launched in April 2023, involved several months-long journeys to top Nigerian universities to identify and nurture talented students with creative ideas.
These students were afforded the opportunity to collaborate, enhance their skills, and actualize their unique concepts through technology.
