Wema Bank has marked its 81st anniversary alongside the ninth anniversary of its digital banking platform, ALAT by Wema, with a series of customer reward initiatives and new engagement campaigns.

The bank said the celebrations, held on May 2, 2026, would focus on giving back to customers rather than hosting large-scale events.

As part of the anniversary, Wema Bank is launching the fifth season of its “5 for 5” reward programme, alongside in-app rewards for ALAT users.

Why it matters

The move reflects a growing shift in Nigeria’s banking sector towards digital-first services and customer engagement.

Since its launch in 2017, ALAT has helped reshape how many Nigerians interact with financial services, offering account opening, payments and savings tools without requiring physical branch visits.

This comes at a time when competition among banks is intensifying, particularly in digital banking and financial inclusion.

‘Helping customers adapt to a changing world’ — CEO

Speaking on the anniversary, Wema Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Moruf Oseni, said the initiative was designed to support customers in an evolving digital economy.

“The world is rapidly evolving. Digital evolution and emerging technologies continue to present newer opportunities and realities,” he said.

“To thrive, one must be prepared to adapt where needed and ready to leverage the possibilities ahead; and this is what we want to help our customers achieve.”

He added that the bank is focused on building a financial ecosystem that aligns with customer needs.

“We are building a smarter and more secure financial future for our customers, one where banking is effortlessly aligned with their goals.”

ALAT at 9: From digital banking to ecosystem

Wema Bank says ALAT has evolved into a broader financial ecosystem over the past nine years.

The platform now includes savings tools such as ALAT Goals, payment solutions, and features aimed at improving financial access.

To mark the milestone, the bank has launched the “ALAT at 9” campaign, featuring interactive activities and rewards.

These include:

Personalised “ALAT Wrapped” summaries of users’ activity

A “9 features in 9 days” engagement challenge

Instant rewards for transactions completed at specific times

A jingle challenge encouraging user-generated content

‘Making banking more interactive’ — Chief Digital Officer

Wema Bank’s Chief Digital Officer, Olusegun Adeniyi, said the campaign aims to make banking more engaging.

“With ALAT at 9, we are transforming routine banking into an interactive experience,” he said.

“By combining personalized insights, gamified missions, and real rewards, we are creating a platform that responds to users in a more dynamic and rewarding way.”

Customer impact and industry perspective

Analysts say initiatives like this could help deepen customer loyalty and drive digital adoption in Nigeria’s banking sector.

For customers, the benefits are immediate — from rewards to easier access to financial tools.

For the wider economy, increased use of digital banking platforms could support financial inclusion, especially among younger users and small businesses.

What’s next

Wema Bank says the anniversary activities will run throughout May 2026, with customers encouraged to update or download the ALAT app via app stores.

More details are available via the bank’s official website:

👉 https://wemabank.com

Small businesses and food lovers took centre stage as Day One of the Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) Food and Drink Festival 2026 opened in Lagos, with vendors reporting strong customer turnout and growing brand visibility.

The three-day festival, holding at GTCentre, is designed as a free platform for entrepreneurs to showcase products while connecting directly with consumers.

Vendors Report Strong Early Gains

For many small businesses, the first day delivered immediate results.

Oluwadamilola, a representative of Buzz Cocktails, attending for the first time, said the event had already driven customer traffic and online engagement.

“We’ve had a lot of customers, and people are already following us on Instagram,” the representative said, rating the experience “10 out of 10”.

She added that the exposure was helping to build brand awareness, with expectations of even higher sales in the coming days.

Returning Vendors Focus on Growth

For returning participants, the festival remains a strategic marketing tool.

Segun Morountonu, General Manager of Sophisticated Wobia, said his business was using the platform to showcase its range of pastries, drinks, and cakes.

“Our goal is to create awareness and bring customers to our store. Once people taste our products, they come back,” he said.

Morountonu, participating for the second year, added that the timing of the festival during Workers’ Day could further boost sales.

Small Business Success Stories Emerge

For some entrepreneurs, the festival is proving transformative.

Dolapo Daramola, founder of Ajara Foods, said her business had experienced rapid growth since launching last year.

“We sold out within four months. Now people know us, they follow us, and they come back to buy again,” she said.

She described the festival as a critical platform for visibility.

“This is a mighty opportunity. If we had to pay for this kind of exposure, it would cost millions.”

Despite challenges such as transportation costs and sourcing materials, she said the benefits outweighed the difficulties.

Consumers Drive Demand and Experience

Attendees also highlighted the festival’s growing appeal.

Qudus Adeniji, a returning visitor, described the experience as “fantastic,” noting improvements in organisation and crowd management.

“They keep improving it every year,” he said, though he noted some minor issues with vendor interactions.

First-Time Visitors Impressed

For newcomers, the festival offered variety and discovery.

Benita said the event met her expectations.

“There are a lot of new things to try,” she said.

A Hub for Food Discovery and Families

Another attendee, Mrs Ijeoma, said the festival helps consumers connect with brands they often see online but rarely visit.

“You can discover vendors close to your home and decide to visit them later,” she said.

She also highlighted the family-friendly setup, noting improvements in comfort, organisation, and planning over the years.

Corporate Vision Meets Market Reality

The Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO, Segun Agbaje, said the festival is built on connection and opportunity.

“Food connects cultures, tells stories, and creates moments that linger long after the experience itself.”

He added that the initiative supports entrepreneurs by providing free retail platforms and access to a wider audience.

“We continue to create opportunities for growth, visibility, and long-term impact.”

Why It Matters

Nigeria’s small business sector faces persistent challenges, including high operating costs and limited access to markets.

Events like the GTCO festival offer a rare opportunity for entrepreneurs to reach thousands of potential customers without the usual financial barriers.

For consumers, it provides access to a wide range of food options and emerging brands in one location.

What’s Next

With two more days to go, vendors are expecting higher turnout and increased sales, while organisers aim to sustain momentum and improve the overall experience.

Concerns over environmental injustice in Nigeria took centre stage at the Inclusive Environments Nigeria Workshop, where experts called for urgent reforms to make sustainability policies more inclusive.

The event was held in collaboration with University of Derby, University of Chester, Renevlyn Development Initiative, and the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN).

Speakers said many Nigerian communities remain excluded from decisions on projects that directly affect their land and livelihoods.

Research led by UK-based experts

The discussions were informed by a major research project led by Chantal Davies, who headed the study on inclusive environmental decision-making.

The research team also included Holly White, Kim Ross, both from the University of Chester and Eghosa Ekhator from the University of Derby.

The study examined how environmental policies can better reflect the needs of marginalised communities through inclusive frameworks.

‘EIA process is failing communities’ – Philip Jakpor

Delivering the welcome address, Philip Jakpor said Nigeria’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system is not working as intended.

“Community people are supposed to be participants in the process. Their views are supposed to matter and inform whether a project goes forward or not.”

He said, however, that the reality is different.

“What we see in Nigeria is limited or no community involvement in EIA processes and total lack of transparency on the part of project implementers.”

Jakpor added that many EIA documents are not accessible.

“There are many projects whose so-called EIA cannot even be found.”

Projects ‘forced on communities’ without consultation

According to Jakpor, communities across Nigeria, from the Niger Delta to the northern regions often face imposed projects.

“Communities hosting development projects insist that such projects are foisted on them with no prior consultations held.”

He warned that companies frequently treat EIA as a box-ticking exercise.

“Most companies only ‘inform’ communities instead of including them as stakeholders whose views matter.”

Systemic failures and weak enforcement

Jakpor also criticised weak enforcement mechanisms.

“We hardly hear of companies penalised for breach of EIA processes.”

He said poor monitoring contributes to environmental degradation across the country.

Niger Delta remains symbol of environmental injustice

Environmental advocate Eric Dooh highlighted long-standing damage in the Niger Delta.

“There has been massive environmental destruction, and companies have not taken responsibility.”

He warned that oil companies may leave without addressing environmental damage.

Legal battles reveal global dimension

Human rights lawyer Chima Williams described how affected communities sought justice abroad, including legal action against Shell.

“We faced jurisdiction battles, delays, and unequal resources but we eventually won on appeal.”

He said the case highlighted systemic issues such as corporate influence and weak regulatory enforcement.

Global research shapes inclusive framework

Speaking on the research findings, Eghosa Ekhator said the proposed Environmental Justice Framework draws lessons from Africa and Latin America.

He explained that environmental justice in African contexts focuses more on access to natural resources, while Western models emphasise pollution and climate risks.

The framework promotes:

Community participation (co-production)

Transparency in governance

Inclusion of marginalised groups

Integration of environmental and social justice

What the research shows

The study found:

Weak community engagement in environmental decision-making

Lack of transparency in project implementation

Poor enforcement of environmental laws

Absence of a consistent justice-based framework

Researchers warned that without reform, sustainability policies could worsen inequality.

Proposed solutions

Recommendations include:

A national Environmental Justice Framework

A mapping tool to track environmental inequalities

A community engagement hub

Stronger enforcement of EIA regulations

These measures aim to ensure communities are active participants not passive observers.

Why this matters

Environmental decisions directly affect millions of Nigerians, especially in resource-rich but vulnerable regions.

Experts say excluding communities risks deepening poverty, conflict, and environmental damage.

What happens next

Stakeholders are calling for immediate adoption of inclusive frameworks across government and industry.

They say meaningful change will depend on putting communities at the centre of decision-making.