Children’s Day celebrations in Nigeria often come with colourful events, school performances, and speeches about the future. This year, one bank decided to turn the attention toward something else — money, education, and how young people prepare for adulthood much earlier.
Inside Wema Bank’s headquarters, a 10-year-old girl briefly stepped into one of the highest offices in the company. What followed was more than just a symbolic event.
The bank announced a series of new rewards and education-focused programmes targeted at children and teenagers, with cash gifts, academic incentives, and financial literacy plans forming part of the package. The announcement came during Wema Bank’s 2026 Children’s Day activities after 10-year-old Chinmamanda Diamond Ozoakpata emerged as the winner of the bank’s One-Day MD/CEO initiative.
As part of her first official action in the temporary leadership role, the bank unveiled new rewards linked to its Royal Kiddies Account and ALAT Xplore platform. Under the programme, children turning five years old between May 2026 and May 2027 will receive ₦5,000 birthday gifts, while those turning 10 within the same period will get ₦10,000.
The bank also announced ₦100,000 rewards for the top 100 pupils in the National Common Entrance Examination starting from next month. Officials said beneficiaries must hold active Royal Kiddies accounts to qualify. “The goal is to help children become financially smart from an early age,” a bank official said during the event.
Alongside the cash rewards, Wema Bank introduced a financial literacy book titled Money Adventures, designed for children aged six and above. The publication is meant to teach basic saving habits, money management, and simple financial discipline in language children can understand.
The bank also launched the Evolve School Tour STEM Challenge for teenagers between 13 and 17 years old. The programme will run across selected secondary schools with science and technology programmes, combining competitions with lessons around innovation, technology, and financial awareness.
Wema Bank officials described the wider initiative as an attempt to go beyond ceremonial Children’s Day celebrations by creating year-long engagement around education and financial awareness.
The One-Day MD/CEO programme itself has started attracting attention since it was introduced in 2025. Chinmamanda became the first female winner after her one-minute entry video reportedly crossed 50,000 views online.
Her appearance at the event also added a softer public image to the bank’s campaign, especially as financial institutions increasingly compete to attract younger customers and families through lifestyle and education-focused products.
“Children should grow up understanding money, not fearing it,” one parent at the event reportedly said.
Across Nigeria’s banking sector, youth-focused savings products have become more common in recent years as banks target long-term customer relationships starting from childhood.
Financial literacy has also become a growing concern among educators and parents, especially as digital banking, online spending, and social media continue shaping how young people interact with money.
For Wema Bank, the programme appears to blend branding, education, and customer growth into one strategy.
Still, beyond the headlines and public event, the bigger test may come later — whether children and parents actually stay engaged with the programmes beyond Children’s Day celebrations.
For now, the bank is betting that teaching financial habits early could create a stronger connection with the next generation long before they open their first adult bank account.
