Wakanow Group, one of Africa’s leading travel technology companies, has acquired NairaBox, a digital entertainment and lifestyle platform developed by JORG Technologies. The move signals Wakanow’s expansion beyond travel into events, food, and leisure, reflecting a broader strategy to build a connected lifestyle ecosystem.
Founded in 2015 by Ugochukwu Jay Chikezie, Tokunbo Adetona, and Damilola Jegede, NairaBox began as a platform for discovering and booking movies, concerts, restaurants, and ticketed events. The company introduced barcode-based ticketing and later launched Africa’s first subscription-based cinema ticketing service, selling more than 10 million tickets across cinemas and live events.
In a statement shared by Heavyweight PR Agency, Bayo Adedeji, Group CEO of Wakanow, said the acquisition would allow the company to deepen its engagement with customers beyond travel.
“We see tremendous opportunity in the intersection of travel and entertainment,” Adedeji said. “This acquisition allows us to offer richer experiences to our customers not just where they travel, but how they live, enjoy, and engage with culture.”
According to Wakanow, Chikezie will continue in his role as CEO of NairaBox during the transition period, while Tobi Andero, formerly of Oracle Experiential Marketing, joins as Head of Business.
In a LinkedIn post confirming the deal, Chikezie described the sale as the continuation of a long-term vision that began nearly a decade ago.
“Started this journey in 2015, pioneering the use of barcode technology for ticketing, changing the way consumers accessed tickets for movies and concerts,” he wrote. “Today, the brand has become a household name in ticketing and it has found a new home in Wakanow. Bayo Adedeji and I have been in conversations since 2022 on this sale and our vision for the brand aligns perfectly.”
While both companies have framed the acquisition as a strategic alignment, the financial details were not disclosed. Wakanow has also been in discussions with cinema operators to resolve outstanding debts associated with NairaBox, according to people familiar with the matter.
The addition of NairaBox expands Wakanow’s portfolio of consumer platforms, which includes Wakanow.com, Kalabash54.com, Roomde.com, Onburd.com, Pointview Travels, and Trip Merchant.
