Wema Bank has named 10 year old Chimamanda Diamond Ozoakpata as its 2026 One Day MD CEO, marking a standout moment in its Children’s Day celebration initiative designed to inspire young Nigerians and expose them early to leadership and financial responsibility.
The programme, which was introduced in 2025, allows selected children to step into the role of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for a day. It is aimed at helping them understand ambition, leadership and the possibilities available in future careers. The first edition was won by 12 year old Chiderije Mbah, who became the bank’s first ever One Day MD CEO.
This year’s edition saw Ozoakpata, a pupil and Head Girl of Redeemers Foundation Nursery and Primary School, emerge as the winner after her one minute video entry attracted more than 50,000 views. Her selection also makes her the first female to hold the symbolic position since the initiative began.
During the handover ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, explained that the initiative was created to encourage children to believe in their potential while exposing them to real leadership responsibilities in a leading financial institution.
He described the programme as part of the bank’s commitment to nurturing young talent and supporting children in building confidence and financial awareness from an early age. He added that the bank remains intentional about creating platforms that help children imagine what their future could look like.
Oseni officially handed over the symbolic leadership role to Ozoakpata for the day, congratulating her and expressing confidence in her ability to represent the bank well during her short tenure.
In her response, Ozoakpata expressed appreciation to the bank for the opportunity, describing it as an unforgettable experience. She noted that Wema Bank had shown strong commitment to supporting children and helping them become financially responsible through various initiatives.
As part of her activities for the day, she approved a series of child focused rewards and programmes. These include birthday cash gifts for children at key ages, academic rewards for top performers in national examinations, and the introduction of a school based STEM and financial literacy initiative aimed at encouraging learning among children and teenagers.
Other highlights of the celebration included an event held at the bank’s head office, cash rewards distributed to selected children, and the launch of a financial literacy book designed to teach money management skills to children from age six and above.
The 2026 edition of the initiative further reinforced the bank’s focus on youth empowerment, education support and early financial education as part of its broader corporate social responsibility efforts.
