…Set to Run the Bank’s Affairs for 24 Hours in an Unforgettable Children’s Day Experience
In a heartfelt celebration of the 2025 Children’s Day, Wema Bank—Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT—has unveiled 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah as its One-Day Managing Director/CEO for May 27, 2025. This special initiative is part of the bank’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of Nigerian leaders. The memorable experience, which took place today at the bank’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos, highlights Wema Bank’s unwavering dedication to investing in the future as it celebrates 80 remarkable years of legacy and impact.
Chiderije Mbah emerged as the winner of the One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO initiative launched in May 2025 to commemorate this year’s Children’s Day celebration. He was selected after submitting a spirited video where he shared his dream of leading a bank and his vision for making finance more fun and accessible to children. His entry, submitted through a social media challenge, stood out among dozens of submissions.
The One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO initiative was the highlight of a broader Children’s Day campaign that invited children across the country to participate in an online challenge. To qualify, participants were required to post a short video dressed in Wema colours, stating the banking role they aspired to while either holding or opening a Royal Kiddies Account (for ages 0–12) or an ALAT Xplore Wallet (for teenagers aged 13–17). The campaign cleverly blended fun with purpose, introducing thousands of young Nigerians to early financial education and the importance of dreaming big.
On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Chiderije stepped into the spotlight at Wema Bank’s Lagos headquarters, receiving a purple-carpet welcome before taking his seat at the helm of the bank. His day was filled with engaging activities—from a guided tour of the head office to leading his own executive briefing session in the boardroom, including an address to senior executives of the bank.
“This is the best day of my life,” said Chiderije Mbah. “Wema Bank made me feel important. I’m learning so much about being a leader and how banking works. I’ll tell all my friends to open a Wema Bank Royal Kiddies Account so they can also start learning how to save—and maybe one day, they can be MD too!”
This unforgettable experience reinforces Wema Bank’s vision for a future-ready Nigeria—one where financial inclusion begins early and every child is equipped with the tools, inspiration, and opportunities to thrive. As Wema Bank celebrates eight decades of resilience and innovation, its focus remains firmly on the horizon—championing the dreams of tomorrow’s leaders, one child at a time.