WhatsApp, a META-owned platform, has stated its willingness to assist business owners in Nigeria and other regions of Africa in expanding their enterprises.
As a result, WhatsApp has launched the ‘WhatsAppreneurs’ campaign, which will feature small business owners from Africa who are utilizing the WhatsApp Business app to expand their business and reach new clients.
According to statistics compiled by The Guardian on Statista, 91.9 percent of Nigerians used the platform for some purpose in Q3 2021.
WhatsApp was also discovered to have been downloaded over five billion times on iOS/Android; 13 million times in April 2021 alone; available in over 180 countries and 60 languages; 100 billion messages sent on the platform every day; used by 54% of millennials and over a third of baby boomers on a daily basis; and generated an estimated $5 billion to $10 billion in 2020, up from an estimated $0.2 billion in 2016. WhatsApp is used by over 2 billion people in over 180 countries to remain in touch with friends and family at any time and from anywhere.
WhatsApp noted that the new campaign would highlight the tales of African SMB owners and help them and others like them learn more about the WhatsApp Business app’s business growth potential through a virtual educational webinar.
Speaking on the launch of the WhatsAppreneurs campaign, Public Policy Director for Africa, Balkissa Ide Siddo, said: “Across Africa, small and medium business owners are using the WhatsApp Business app to develop their business, showcase their products, close sales, and connect with their customers. The WhatsApp Business app provides a tool to help businesses thrive in their markets, reach more customers, and grow their businesses consistently. We are delighted to be a part of the success stories of small businesses who are so important to communities across Africa.”
Small businesses make up a significant portion of the economy, according to WhatsApp, and they have a lot of potential for growth, opportunity creation, and overcoming poverty post-pandemic. As a result, there is a need to provide support through digital tools to help them thrive.
The WhatsAppreneur initiative, according to the platform, aims to provide businesses with the resources they need to unlock their growth potential and contribute to the creation of a more resilient, inclusive, and empowered society.
“In addition to helping businesses grow, the WhatsApp Business app also provides an opportunity for businesses to create a much deeper and stronger relationship with their customers, often starting with real-time 1:1 conversations via chat, unlike transactional phone calls or SMSs.The WhatsApp Business app is free and allows users to create a business catalogue on WhatsApp that can be viewed by users from anywhere,” it stated.
