The Wema Bank/ALAT Hackaholics Digital Summit and Grand Finale themed ‘Re-imagine: Disrupting the Ecosystem for Scale,’ has seen IRETI, a pioneering health-tech startup focused on bridging gaps in breast cancer management, emerged as the winner. The event, held in Lagos, celebrated innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
IRETI secured the coveted title, winning a substantial cash prize of N15 million for their outstanding business pitch. The first runner-up, GRIP, a fintech startup, walked away with N10 million, while the second runner-up, Trakka, earned N7 million. Additionally, Outsidee was awarded N5 million as the recipient of the Women Led Award, a special prize designed to support women in tech.
Several other startups were recognized for their exceptional contributions to various sectors:
- Naijabox was named the best energy startup.
- PUP Industries received the award for the best climate-focused startup.
- MumAlive was recognized in the health startup category.
- Chao excelled in the e-commerce category.
- University-X stood out in the edutech category.
The 10 finalists who competed in the Hackaholics 4.0 included IRETI, GRIP, Trakka, Outsidee, Chao, Raptor, Pup Industries, University-X, Naijabox, and MumAlive.
In addition to recognizing groundbreaking startups, Wema Bank also demonstrated its commitment to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The bank presented endowment funds to three universities:
- Babcock University received N10 million.
- Afe Babalola University was awarded N7 million.
- Nile University was granted N5 million.
This initiative aims to promote STEM education and empower universities to further develop their programs.
Jane Agbaohwo, the founder and creative director of IRETI, expressed her excitement after winning the top prize. She emphasized IRETI’s mission to raise awareness about breast cancer, particularly in both urban and rural communities. Agbaohwo emphasized the importance of early detection and timely treatment to increase survival rates.
Moruf Oseni, the MD/CEO of Wema Bank, highlighted the bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. He emphasized the significance of combining traditional banking expertise with technology to foster growth and development.
Olugbenga Agboola, Founder and CEO of Flutterwave, delivered a keynote address praising events like Hackaholics 4.0 for offering valuable opportunities to founders who use technology to tackle local and global challenges. He commended Wema Bank for creating a supportive environment for innovation in the fintech sector.
Tunde Mabawonku, Wema Bank’s Executive Director of Retail and Digital Business, underscored the significance of the digital summit in uniting digital innovators, visionaries, and industry leaders from across Nigeria. He emphasized that the summit’s theme, “Re-imagine: Disrupting the Ecosystem for Scale,” epitomized the bank’s commitment to innovation and its belief in the ever-changing landscape of the digital age.
