By Peace Udugba
Wema Bank has unveiled a series of new initiatives aimed at promoting financial literacy, academic excellence, leadership development, and innovation among Nigerian children as part of its 2026 Children’s Day celebration.
The initiatives were announced during the bank’s Children’s Day Special Event held on Monday, May 25, 2026, by the bank’s One-Day MD/CEO, Chinmamanda Diamond Ozoakpata.
According to the bank, the Children’s Day celebration has evolved over the years from a symbolic event into a platform focused on empowering children through education, leadership opportunities, and financial inclusion.
One of the major highlights of the announcement is a year-long birthday reward programme for holders of the bank’s Royal Kiddies account. Under the initiative, children turning five years old will receive ₦5,000, while those turning 10 years old will receive ₦10,000 as birthday gifts.
The bank stated that the programme would run from May 2026 to May 2027, adding that children who had already turned five or 10 earlier this year before May 2026 would also benefit from the reward.
To qualify, beneficiaries must have active Royal Kiddies accounts within the eligibility period.
In another initiative designed to encourage academic excellence, Wema Bank announced that the top 100 students in the National Common Entrance Examination would receive ₦100,000 each beginning from June 2026.
The bank explained that beneficiaries must both rank among the top performers in the examination and maintain Royal Kiddies accounts with the bank.
At the event, Wema Bank also launched “Money Adventures,” a financial literacy book targeted at children aged six and above.
According to the bank, the publication was created to help children understand basic concepts such as saving, money management, and responsible financial habits through simplified and engaging storytelling.
Copies of the book will be available to children with active or newly activated Royal Kiddies accounts.
The bank further introduced the Evolve School Tour STEM Challenge for secondary school students between the ages of 13 and 17 through its ALAT Xplore platform.
The programme, which will be hosted in six schools across Nigeria with established STEM programmes, is expected to feature hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics competitions alongside financial literacy engagements.
Participants will also compete for monetary prizes at the end of the challenge.
Wema Bank said eligible participants must be ALAT Xplore customers within the specified age bracket and students of participating schools.
The bank noted that over the last four years, it had continued to expand its Children’s Day initiatives through leadership experiences, school tours, and financial literacy campaigns targeted at children.
It added that this year’s package marks its most comprehensive children-focused initiative so far, combining year-long rewards, academic incentives, financial education, and nationwide STEM engagement programmes.
According to the bank, the initiative reflects its commitment to creating long-term opportunities and meaningful experiences for children beyond the annual Children’s Day celebration.
