In a bold stride toward dominating Africa’s experience economy, Wakanow, the continent’s leading online travel group, has snapped up Nairabox, Nigeria’s premier digital platform for event and cinema ticketing. The acquisition catapults Wakanow from flight bookings to a seamless empire where travel, entertainment, and payments collide—unlocking richer, more connected adventures for millions.
This isn’t a random pivot; it’s the culmination of Wakanow’s meticulously crafted strategy. Just last year, the company restructured into a powerhouse group entity, unleashing innovative arms like Kalabash for fintech solutions and RoomDe for accommodations.
Group CEO Bayo Adedeji laid out the vision at the Wakanow Unpacked Expo in Lagos: “Africa holds 19% of the world’s population but just 2% of global tourism. The opportunity is far greater than we realize.” Now, Nairabox slots perfectly into that “holistic lifestyle ecosystem,” blending journeys with cultural thrills.
“We see tremendous opportunity in the intersection of travel and entertainment,” Adedeji declared. “This lets us deliver not just destinations, but how people immerse themselves in culture.” For users, it means one app to book a flight to Lagos, snag concert tickets, and catch the latest blockbuster—all in a tap.
Nairabox, already Nigeria’s go-to for concerts and cinema, injects that vibrant cultural pulse into Wakanow’s arsenal. Co-founder Ugochukwu Jay Chikezie couldn’t hide his excitement: “This marks an exhilarating chapter for Nairabox and Nigerian entertainment.
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Together, we’re crafting a future where unforgettable experiences are simpler and more connected than ever.” Tobi Andero steps up as Head of Business for Nairabox under the Wakanow umbrella, with ambitious plans to scale across Africa.
The deal signals a seismic shift rippling through Africa’s digital landscape: goodbye, siloed apps; hello, all-in-one lifestyle platforms. Wakanow, already a trailblazer with Pay Small Small for installment travel payments and Amina, its savvy AI chatbot, is cementing its throne as the continent’s lifestyle tech hub.
Financial terms remain under wraps, but the timing couldn’t be sharper. Analysts forecast Africa’s travel and entertainment market exploding to $15 billion by 2025 and a whopping $38 billion by 2028. With Nairabox in its pocket, Wakanow isn’t just riding the wave—it’s poised to steer it, one transformative experience at a time.
