In celebration of Childrenโs Day 2025, Wema Bank has named 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah as its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer for a day, on May 27, 2025.
The announcement was made on Tuesday at the bankโs Marina, Lagos headquarters, underscoring Wema Bankโs dedication to nurturing future leaders as it celebrates 80 years of service and impact.
Mbah earned the honorary role by submitting a vibrant video detailing his dream of leading a bank and his creative ideas for making finance more enjoyable and accessible for children. His entry was part of a social media challenge and stood out among numerous applications.
To participate, children were invited to share a short video dressed in Wema colours, expressing their desired banking role. Participants were also required to either open or hold a Royal Kiddies Account (ages 0โ12) or an ALAT Xplore Wallet (ages 13โ17).
The initiative combined fun with education, introducing thousands of Nigerian youths to the fundamentals of financial literacy and encouraging them to dream big.
Mbah received a warm purple-carpet reception on Tuesday before stepping into his leadership role. His day included a tour of the head office, an executive session in the boardroom, and a chance to address senior executives.
โThis is the best day of my life. Wema Bank made me feel important. Iโm learning so much about leadership and banking. Iโll tell my friends to open a Royal Kiddies Account so they can start saving too, and maybe become MD one day,” Mbah expressed.
Wema Bankโs MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, commented on the program, saying:
โAs we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we reflect on our journey and look ahead to the future which belongs to young stars like Mbah. Todayโs event is one way weโre showing our commitment to supporting children in their financial, personal, and professional development.โ
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