WhatsApp, a social media platform, initiated a three-week campaign named ‘Power your hustle with WhatsApp Business’ to detail how Nigerian small business owners utilize its enterprise software. The promotional effort examines operations in Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja. It focuses on how merchants deploy the application's inventory tracking and artificial intelligence capabilities to process digital transactions.
The campaign highlights the integration of the Meta Business Agent, an artificial intelligence assistant created by technology company Meta. The automated software answers customer questions, recommends products and advances sales processes when business operators are unavailable.
“WhatsApp continues to be an important part of how business gets done in Nigeria, and we’re seeing business owners use it for far more than just messaging. The founders we’re spotlighting are finding new customers, answering questions quickly and making sales. With Meta Business Agent, business owners now have AI working alongside them, and we look forward to seeing how they use it to power their hustle,” said Oluwasola Obagbemi, Head of Communications, Sub-Saharan Africa, Meta.
Local merchants apply the software to maintain client communications during manufacturing periods. FHR Spices, a natural food seasoning brand operating in Ibadan, Oyo State, uses the artificial intelligence integration to handle customer inquiries.
“WhatsApp Business has become one of our most powerful tools for building relationships and driving sales. While I am busy in production, the Meta Business Agent knows my product as I do, and it answers customers’ questions in a way that feels personal,” said founder Aminat Akinyemi.
Other enterprises rely on the platform's organizational tools. Edibles by Lera Ipapanu, a Lagos snack brand, uses the software's Catalogue feature to display its inventory. Founder Mosumola Oladoye stated, “WhatsApp Business is the digital storefront of Edibles by Lera Ipapanu. One feature I love is the Catalogue, because customers can browse our products, see prices and check available sizes.”
Twinny’s Kitchen, an Abuja food processing company that produces packaged African food products, organizes customer data through the application's Lists function.
“WhatsApp Business has helped me transform customer conversations into lasting relationships and it has become the biggest driver of Twinny’s Kitchen’s growth. With Lists, I organise my customers into groups like New orders, Follow up, Pending orders and Waybill,” said founder Augustina Onoriode. According to Meta, documentary-style videos detailing these operations are featured on the Meta Africa Facebook page and WhatsApp for Business social channels.
