Wakanow Group, a prominent travel technology leader in Africa, has officially acquired NairaBox, a digital platform specializing in entertainment and lifestyle, originally created by JORG Technologies. This acquisition marks Wakanow’s strategic move to diversify beyond travel services into the realms of events, dining, and leisure, aiming to establish a comprehensive lifestyle ecosystem.
Established in 2015 by Ugochukwu Jay Chikezie, Tokunbo Adetona, and Damilola Jegede, NairaBox started as a hub for discovering and booking tickets to movies, concerts, restaurants, and various ticketed experiences. The platform pioneered barcode-based ticketing in Africa and later introduced the continent’s first subscription model for cinema tickets, successfully facilitating the sale of over 10 million tickets for both film screenings and live events.
In a press release distributed by Heavyweight PR Agency, Bayo Adedeji, Wakanow’s Group CEO, emphasized that this acquisition will enable the company to engage with its audience on a deeper level beyond just travel.
“We recognize significant potential at the crossroads of travel and entertainment,” Adedeji stated. “This acquisition empowers us to enrich our customers’ experiences not only in their travel destinations but also in their everyday lives, cultural engagements, and entertainment choices.”
Wakanow also announced that Ugochukwu Jay Chikezie will remain as NairaBox’s CEO throughout the integration phase, while Tobi Andero, formerly with Oracle Experiential Marketing, will join as Head of Business.
Confirming the acquisition on LinkedIn, Chikezie reflected on the journey that began nearly ten years ago, highlighting the alignment of visions between the two companies.
“Since launching in 2015, we have revolutionized ticketing with barcode technology, transforming how audiences access tickets for films and concerts,” he shared. “NairaBox has grown into a trusted brand in ticketing and now finds a new home within Wakanow. Discussions with Bayo Adedeji started in 2022, and our shared vision made this partnership a natural fit.”
Although both parties describe the acquisition as a strategic fit, financial terms remain confidential. Sources familiar with the situation reveal that Wakanow is also negotiating with cinema operators to address outstanding debts linked to NairaBox.
Integrating NairaBox broadens Wakanow’s suite of consumer platforms, which already includes Wakanow.com, Kalabash54.com, Roomde.com, Onburd.com, Pointview Travels, and Trip Merchant.
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