In a stirring celebration of potential, leadership and boundless possibilities of the next generation, 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah, winner of the Wema Bank One-Day MD/CEO Initiative, took over the reins of the bank on May 27, 2025, as part of the financial institution’s Children’s Day activities.
The initiative, created to spotlight young talent and inspire leadership ambition in children across Nigeria, saw dozens of entries from aspiring child leaders.
Participants were asked to submit video pitches detailing their ideal role in the bank and why they believed they deserved the opportunity.
Chiderije’s submission stood out for its eloquence, clarity of vision, and passion for leadership, earning him the prestigious honour of leading Nigeria’s oldest indigenous and most innovative bank, Wema Bank, for a day.
On the morning of his takeover, Chiderije arrived at the Bank’s Head Office in Lagos to a purple carpet reception and a warm welcome by top executives.
From meeting with key management members to making real-time executive decisions, he was given full exposure to the demands and responsibilities of a CEO. But he did not stop at merely observing, he came prepared to lead.
Chiderije’s bold debut was followed by a deeply symbolic moment: the official handover of the MD/CEO insignia from Wema Bank’s substantive Managing Director and CEO, Moruf Oseni, who commended the young leader’s courage and foresight.
In a surprise gesture that left many in awe, Oseni announced he would be giving his one-day salary for May 27 to Chiderije, as a reward for taking on the responsibilities of the day.
“The Wema way is ‘work hard, reward hard,’ and as MD/CEO for today, Chiderije will experience it firsthand,” he said.
The CEO went on to highlight Wema Bank’s commitment to life-long empowerment, captured in the Bank’s enduring creed: ‘With You, All The Way’.
He reaffirmed the Bank’s belief that empowering children today lays the foundation for a better Nigeria and a more inclusive, visionary financial sector.
“Every great man, woman, or even institution was once a child. If we are truly committed to shaping the future, we must start by empowering children today. This is why Children’s Day is important to Wema Bank as a celebration and a serious leadership development opportunity,” Oseni said.
Chiderije’s first act as MD/CEO was to announce four new special rewards aimed at empowering Nigeria’s youth. The exciting rewards for children and teenagers are free ALAT Xplore personalised debit cards for all teenagers between May 27 and June 30, N2,000 cashback for every new Royal Kiddies Account (ages 0–12) opened from May 27 to June 30, an extra one per cent interest rate on all balances in existing and new Royal Kiddies and ALAT Xplore accounts between May 27 and June 30.
There was also a free 1GB of data for teens who registered on the ALAT Xplore app from May 27 to June 30.
“I am very grateful to Wema Bank for trusting me with this great opportunity. I have had the best day experiencing Wema Bank from within as the one-day MD/CEO for Children’s Day, and I wanted more children to enjoy like I have. So, to make this occasion even more special, I decided to commission some special rewards,” said Chiderije as he announced the new offers.
