Nigerian entrepreneur 'changing lives' with personal finance app for racialized communities

CBC is highlighting stories of Black Canadian immigrants to share the joys and obstacles on their paths to Black excellence. From their first steps in Canada to the moments that shaped their lives. These are their journeys here.

When Nigerian-born Akeem Adebisi  moved to Winnipeg with his family in 2015, he noticed the local racialized community was having trouble navigating the banking system and making ends meet.

"You know, a lot of people are struggling in our community," he said. "I mean, the Black community here in Manitoba, doing three jobs, doing four jobs, you know, just to make ends meet."

Adebisi knew many people who were getting money through payday loans without realizing how the system works.

"This is the challenge that most folks face when they come to Canada … if the banking system is not helping you."

WATCH | Akeem Adebisi describes his journey to Canada and to launching personal finance app:

Why a Nigerian-born entrepreneur created an app to help racialized communities manage their finances

3 years ago

Duration 5:03

When Nigerian-born Akeem Adebisi noticed that racialized communities in Winnipeg were struggling to navigate the banking system and make ends meet, he decided to create an app to help them save for their goals.

Adebisi, who comes from a family of entrepreneurs, decided to find a solution — all while navigating his new telecommunications job, where he said he frequently encountered racism from clients.

In 2019, he created AjoPro, an app that helps people save for goals. Those can include anything from paying off student debt, to saving up for a downpayment to buy a house.

AjoPro is billed as a "social money" app that allows users to borrow money from their community without interest or credit checks, and avoid costly payday loans.

According to AjoPro's App store page, the concept is based on a centuries old self-funding system popularly known as a Rotating Savings and Credit Association (ROSCA).

Adebisi says the app, which saw $2 million in transactions last year, has had a positive impact on the people who use it.

"If you look at the response that people have been giving us on our Google, our Google Play or our Android Apple Store, you will see tremendous joy," he said.

"It's a feeling that, you know, one can't really describe: the fact that you are making people happy, you are changing lives, you're making people feel like they belong."

Being Black in Canada: My Journey Here is a special series where Black Canadian immigrants share the joys and obstacles on their paths to Black excellence. From their first steps in Canada to the moments that shaped their lives.