For Wema Bank, what started as a celebration has evolved into an intentional platform designed to build confidence, encourage leadership, promote financial literacy and create meaningful opportunities for children across different age groups. This year, the bank has raised the bar even higher, as it held a Children’s Day special event on Monday, May 25 where the 1-day MD/CEO, Chinmamanda Diamond Ozoakpata, used her first official act to unveil a series of new initiatives designed to reward, educate and empower Nigerian children.
From its year-long cash rewards and celebrations of academic excellence to financial literacy materials and STEM challenge, the new incentives and how to qualify for them included Birthday Cash Gift (Royal Kiddies Account Holders) where Wema bank is putting real money behind milestone birthdays.
Here, active Royal Kiddies Account holders turning five will receive ₦5,000, while those turning 10 will receive ₦10,000 automatically as a birthday cash gift. The initiative runs from May 2026 to May 2027.
Most significantly, active account holders who already turned 5 or 10 before May 2026 will also receive their rewards this month.
A statement from Wema Bank indicated that to qualify, a child must hold an active Royal Kiddies account and would be turning (or has turned) 5 or 10 within the qualifying window.
In a move that directly ties financial reward to academic achievement, Wema Bank will reward the top 100 students in the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) with ₦100,000 each. To qualify for this initiative commencing in June 2026, a kid must be among the top 100 performers in the NCEE and hold a Royal Kiddies account.
A financial literacy book created for children aged 6 and above was launched at the Children’s Day event. Designed to make money conversations simpler and more engaging for young readers, the book introduces children to foundational concepts around saving, money management and responsible financial habits in a fun, age-appropriate way.
To receive a copy of the book, a child must hold an active Royal Kiddies account or have his or her Royal Kiddies account newly activated.
The bank also unveiled the Evolve School Tour STEM Challenge. Made for secondary school students aged 13–17, the programme will run across six schools nationwide with existing STEM programmes.
Through hands-on STEM competitions and school engagements, the initiative aims to promote innovation, technology awareness, financial literacy and responsible savings culture.
There will equally be monetary prizes to be won at the end of the challenge. To qualify, a kid must be an ALAT Xplore customer and attend one of the participating schools with an active STEM programme.
Over the last four years, Wema Bank has consistently treated Children’s Day as more than a calendar moment. From the One-Day MD/CEO initiative to school tours, leadership experiences and child-focused financial literacy campaigns, the bank has continued to expand how it supports children meaningfully.