Meet Chiderije Mbah: 12-Year-Old Takes Over as One-Day CEO of Wema Bank, Launches Youth Empowerment Rewards

Meet Chiderije Mbah: 12-Year-Old Takes Over as One-Day CEO of Wema Bank, Launches Youth Empowerment Rewards

In celebration of Children’s Day 2025, 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah made history as he stepped into the role of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank for one day, as part of the bank’s One-Day MD/CEO initiative.

The annual programme, designed to nurture young talent and inspire leadership among children in Nigeria, invited participants to submit video entries explaining their dream role at the bank and why they deserved the opportunity. Chiderije’s compelling pitch, marked by eloquence and vision, earned him the coveted spot at the helm of Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank.

Upon his arrival at Wema Bank’s Lagos Head Office, Chiderije received a grand purple carpet welcome and engaged with top executives, making key decisions and gaining firsthand exposure to the challenges of corporate leadership.

His historic day was marked by a symbolic moment — the official handover of responsibilities from the bank’s MD/CEO, Mr. Moruf Oseni, who praised Chiderije’s leadership qualities.

In an unexpected move, Mr. Oseni announced that he would donate his salary for the day to Chiderije in recognition of the young leader’s efforts.

“The Wema way is ‘work hard, reward hard,’ and as MD/CEO for today, Chiderije will experience it firsthand,” Oseni said.

He also reiterated the bank’s commitment to nurturing young minds, stating,

“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.”

Taking charge from the onset, Chiderije unveiled four new initiatives aimed at empowering Nigerian youth. These include:

Free ALAT Xplore personalized debit cards for teenagers from May 27 to June 30, 2025.

N2,000 cashback on every new Royal Kiddies Account (ages 0–12) opened within the same period.

An additional 1% interest on all balances in existing and new Royal Kiddies and ALAT Xplore accounts.

Free 1GB data for teens who register on the ALAT Xplore app.

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“I’m 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,” Chiderije stated.

The One-Day MD/CEO initiative is part of Wema Bank’s broader youth empowerment efforts, which include the Royal Kiddies Account for children aged 0–12 and the ALAT Xplore app for teenagers. These platforms are designed to help parents instill financial discipline in their children while giving young users tools for budgeting, saving and goal-setting.

Chiderije’s story stands as a powerful example of Wema Bank’s commitment to fostering future leaders and creating a culture of excellence from an early age.