The moment Uche Elekwachi wanted to show what his new platform could do, he pulled out his phone and gave a fan 200,000 naira on the spot. The artist known as J Martins had just urged the crowd at the Lifteller launch in Lagos to register, and Elekwachi, the platform's founder and chairman, demonstrated the transaction live. The money moved from his wallet to the recipient's in seconds.
Lifteller, a social media platform built for giving and receiving support, launched in Lagos over the weekend. It is live on the web, Android, and iOS. The platform allows users to "Offer a Lift," "Request a Lift," or "Raise a Lift" for individuals and communities. Requests can cover feeding, housing, transportation, medical expenses, school fees, and business seed capital. Non-monetary items like clothes, books, and equipment are also allowed.
Elekwachi said the idea came from a question he encountered while studying at Lagos Business School.
"What does it mean to be human? As human beings, we are meant to help one another," he said during the launch. "Lifteller is about the fusion of goodness. We believe there is enough food and enough money to meet humanity's needs at all times; the reality is simply that some people have more while others do not have enough."
He framed the platform as a response to problems that technology alone cannot solve. "There are problems in the world that technology can solve. However, there are also problems that require the collective action of humanity," Elekwachi said. "It is about people coming together and saying, 'We can help one another.'"
The mechanics are straightforward. Users fund their wallets through bank transfers, with each user assigned a unique virtual account. "With Lifteller, anyone can simply tap on a post in their feed and give another person ₦5,000, for example. The money moves instantly from the giver's wallet to the recipient's wallet," Elekwachi demonstrated.
Lifteller has integrated with Lotus Bank and is in partnership discussions with Fidelity Bank to support transactions. Richard Madiebo, General Manager at Fidelity Bank plc, called the launch "a revolution in digital giving." He added, "At a time when technology continues to redefine how people connect, Lifteller provides a platform through which individuals and communities can come together to support meaningful causes."
Trust is the platform's main concern. Users must provide supporting evidence for requests. The app enables comments and reports and provides backend tools for muting or deactivating fraudulent accounts. "This is not a lending or borrowing platform. Whatever you give is given freely. Lifteller is a free-gift platform," Elekwachi clarified.
MD/CEO Akinshola Samuel Akinde said the platform goes beyond cash. "We also have a non-monetary aspect. You could raise resources for out-of-school children, laptops for tech learners, and sewing machines for fashion students. You post it, people signify interest, and we verify and deliver," he said. "We are monitoring in real time how funds are coming in to mitigate fraudulent activity. Trust is one of our key strengths."
Keynote speaker Dr. Ameenah Adebayo-Shittu, a leadership and social development expert, praised the concept. "The most meaningful innovation is technology that solves an ordinary human problem exceptionally well," she said. "Lifteller offers a compelling answer – to place technology deliberately in the service of humanity. To lift someone is not merely to provide what they lack. It is to help them move forward."
J Martins, who lifted his fans with 200,000 naira on the platform during the event, urged Nigerians to join. "There's a lot of need around us. N500, N1,000, and N5,000 can bring lots of comfort to families. This is not political. This is free. Help someone today. Lift their life today," he said.
Lifteller has set a target of 2 million users by December 2026. The team is working on partnerships with NYSC for community projects and with donor agencies for rural interventions. Features like "JamLifts" for exam fees are in development.
Elekwachi sees the platform expanding beyond Nigeria. "It's not just about Nigeria; it's about the world," he said. "What is constant is that love is constant; compassion exists anywhere in the world."
According to Pulse.ng.
