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Wema Bank Launches the Upgraded Version of ALAT Banking App

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Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has launched the upgraded version of its flagship digital banking platform, ALAT by Wema. Designed as the next phase in digital banking, the upgraded version of ALAT delivers a smarter, faster, and more intuitive experience, reinforcing Wema Bank’s leadership in technology-driven financial services.

 

 

Tagged ALAT: The Evolution, the upgraded version represents a significant advancement in how customers interact with their bank. It enables seamless banking through intelligent features such as voice banking (called SAW), which allows customers to carry out banking activities using natural voice commands, reducing friction and improving accessibility. It also introduces Tap and Pay for quick, secure, and convenient contactless transactions, alongside uptime prediction that enhances transparency, reliability, and confidence around service availability. Together, these innovations are designed to simplify everyday banking while anticipating customer needs in real time, reinforcing Wema Bank’s commitment to trust, efficiency, and customer-centric digital experiences.

Announcing the upgraded version, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Mr. Moruf Oseni, said, “ALAT: The Evolution is more than an upgrade. It is a clear demonstration of our commitment to redefining digital banking in Africa. By understanding the future of banking and listening closely to our customers, we have upgraded ALAT by Wema to a digital banking platform that is smart, intelligent and dependable. This evolution reinforces our promise to deliver innovation that genuinely enhances how people live, work, and transact everyday.”

He added that migrating to the upgraded app is seamless. “Existing customers can simply visit the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to update their existing ALAT app and sign-in with their existing login details (All their account information and transaction history remain intact on their profile and they will also gain access to new features that make banking faster, more intuitive, and more reliable). For new customers, all they have to do is visit the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to download ALAT by Wema app and click the Get Started icon to onboard seamlessly.

Speaking on the technology in the upgraded ALAT by Wema, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chief Digital Officer at Wema Bank, explained, “With ALAT: The Evolution, we set out to enhance not just functionality but the overall banking experience. By integrating voice banking, contactless payments, and predictive reliability, we are delivering a platform that is built on powerful technology and responds intelligently to customer needs. This upgrade reflects our long-term digital vision to create a digital bank that is adaptive, intuitive, and consistently available.”

Built on speed, intelligence, and user-centric design, ALAT: The Evolution redefines everyday banking through intuitive features such as voice-enabled transactions, contactless payments, and predictive service reliability. Designed to anticipate customer needs in real time, the platform delivers a smarter, more seamless, and dependable digital banking experience that reflects Wema Bank’s vision for the future of finance.

With the upgraded version of ALAT, Wema Bank continues to strengthen its position as a digital-first institution, delivering innovative solutions that empower individuals and businesses to bank with confidence in an increasingly digital economy.

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BINATONE Announces Special One Month Black Friday Deals!

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Global Appliances Nigeria Limited, manufacturers of Binatone products has, announced an exciting Black Friday deals.

 

The company’s Managing Director, Mr Prasun Banerjee, said the offer cut across Its Full Range of Smart Home Appliances.

“Binatone, one of Africa’s most trusted appliance brands for over 52 years, is delighted to announce its Black Friday Mega Sales offering amazing discounts across all key supermarkets and leading electronic stores nationwide” Mr Banerjee said in a statement.

The promotion will be from November 6th to december 6th, 2026.

During this period, Mr Banerjee said customers will have a full month to enjoy unbeatable prices on a wide range of Binatone products.

“From energy solutions to kitchen essentials, Binatone will bring exceptional value and innovation to every Nigerian home this festive season,” he added.

According to him, this year’s Black Friday promotions will feature exciting offers across multiple categories stressing that Shoppers can enjoy great discounts on stand fans equipped with mosquito-repellent and air-freshness features, including the newly introduced AD 1601 AC/DC Fan, which can be linked to a solar panel for clean, free air.

“The rechargeable fan range, available in three models with replaceable lithium-ion batteries, recharges in just four hours and provides up to ten hours of cooling—enough to last the whole night,” Mr Banerjee added.

For kitchen lovers, he said the KC6000 Yam Pounder/Fufu Maker promises quick, hygienic, and effortless meal preparation while the air-fryer series, available in three models, requires just a teaspoon of oil to make crispy, tasty, and healthy fries.

“Binatone’s cool-touch kettles, models CEJ 1799 and CEJ 1700T, come with elegant digital displays and are designed for safety and convenience, he added.

To protect valuable home appliances, he disclosed that Binatone’s power range offers stabilizers in 2 KVA and 5 KVA capacities and surge-voltage protectors in 13 A30 A ratings—ideal for air conditioners.

“The company’s newly launched Power Stations, available in 1.8 KVA and 2.4 KVA variants, provide portable, plug-and-play power with solar-charging capability, ensuring reliable backup power for homes, small offices, and outdoor use”

He disclosed that customers will also find irresistible discounts on Binatone’s dry and steam irons, garment steamers, and microwave ovens thar are perfect for everyday household needs.

“The breakfast-essentials range features pop-up toasters, sandwich makers, and juicers designed to make mornings easier,” he stated. He announced that the high-powered blender collection includes durable, unbreakable jugs capable of smoothly blending hard nuts and beans.

“Additionally, Binatone has introduced the Tefal Cookware Range, offering premium non-stick pots and pans for healthy cooking, along with Freeplay solar-powered lanterns and torches, ensuring every home remains bright and energy-efficient

“Binatone’s Black Friday celebration is our way of thanking loyal customers for their trust over the years,” Mr Banerjee added.

“We are bringing quality, affordability, and innovation together, thus making this season the perfect time to upgrade your home.

”All Binatone products comes with a two-year warranty, giving customers additional peace of mind and assurance of lasting quality.

“Don’t miss these amazing Black Friday offers, available for a limited time at all major supermarkets, electronic stores, and online platforms across,” he stated.

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Wema Bank’s Top 21 Hackaholics 7.0 Grand Finale Finalists Emerge

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Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, has unveiled the Top 21 finalists for Hackaholics 7.0, who will compete at the grand finale scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, in Lagos. Themed Festival of the Future, the grand finale will bring together innovators, technology leaders, startup founders, investors and key players in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem for an immersive celebration of ideas, technology and the possibilities shaping the future.

 

The Top 21 finalists are: Dynalimb, Harthiq, Acceede, Vhorde, URI, Trarrk, SocialSign, RaverPay, All-Arbitrates, CitizensGage, Craft-Planet, FOID, PayByPalm, Niteonn, Nexa-AI, Neural-Forge, MamaAlert, JolliFlow, Becca, CropiQ and Middleman.

Hackaholics is Wema Bank’s youth and start-up-focused initiative, designed to provide young innovators with a platform to transform creative, technology-driven ideas into practical solutions to real-world challenges and gain a competitive edge in the global technology and digital space. Since its launch in 2019, the initiative has recorded over 21,000 applicants, engaged more than 50,000 participants, supported over 10,000 startups across three countries and developed more than 100 solutions from scratch.

The 7th edition, which commenced on July 1, 2026, attracted 5,329 participants and generated 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions across seven pitch-centre locations: Uyo, Kano, YabaTech, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos. Following the nationwide tour, 59 participants emerged from the various centres, with the Top 21 selected through a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process.

The Hackaholics 7.0 grand finale week will feature a three-day programme of strategic engagement and innovation-focused activities. On Wednesday, November 4, the finalists will participate in the Pre-Pitch, where they will present refined versions of their solutions. This will be followed by the Ecosystem Tour on Thursday, November 5, powered by Wema Bank, offering participants the opportunity to visit leading institutions within the technology and innovation ecosystem, interact with industry professionals and gain practical insights ahead of the final competition. The programme will culminate in the grand finale on Friday, November 6, where outstanding innovators will be recognised and celebrated.

Through Hackaholics, Wema Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem by identifying emerging talent, creating opportunities for young innovators and supporting the development of solutions to real-world challenges. The initiative reinforces the Bank’s role in empowering the next generation of innovators and building an ecosystem where ideas can thrive and possibilities become reality.

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Sanusi Warns FG Against Spending Without Restraint

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Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has implied that the Federal government may not be able to achieve it’s economic reform dream if it maintains it’s present expenditure rate, declaring that Nigeria could not pursue fiscal consolidation while continuing to spend without restraint.

 

Speaking virtually to the audience at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference, organised by the Oxford Global Think Tank, on Tuesday, the monarch said reform must go beyond removing fuel subsidies and liberalising the exchange rate, describing it as a comprehensive package that needed to address many other areas.

He said government needed to make clear spending priorities, choosing between roads, electricity, agriculture, and technology based on available resources.

The Emir also raised concerns about the size of government expenditure, saying Nigeria could not pursue fiscal consolidation while continuing to spend without restraint.

He said the World Bank had pointed out that in the first half of this year Nigeria’s debt service consumed 124 per cent of federal government revenue.

Sanusi warned that the country needed to urgently address the sustainability of its debt and pursue structural reforms that had not yet been made.

The former CBN boss said every $10 billion spent on roads was $10 billion taken away from electricity and agriculture, stressing the need for deliberate choices.

Sanusi acknowledged that Tinubu’s economic reforms had produced measurable progress, citing improvements in GDP growth, inflation, and foreign reserves.

He said GDP growth has risen from an average of 0.9 per cent under the previous administration to 4.5 per cent, describing the change as progress that deserved recognition.

“I think moving from an average growth rate of 0.9 per cent to 4.5 per cent is progress. Moving from inflation of over 30 per cent to 14.5 per cent is progress.”

“Moving from the point where in 2023 the central bank’s reserves were maybe negative to where we are now having reserves of $55 billion is progress.”

He, however, stressed that issues such as poverty, hunger, maternal mortality, malnutrition, education and healthcare remained serious concerns that the reforms has not yet addressed.

Sanusi said the government should have designed social safety net policies to soften the impact of reforms on vulnerable Nigerians from the beginning.

The former CBN boss also advised the government to tolerate constructive criticism,warning the Federal Government against treating every comment about it’s workings as an attack on President Bola Tinubu.

“It’s not every time people talk about poverty or talk about difficulty that they’re just enemies of the government or making an attack on the president. That is not how to respond to economic distress,” he said.

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