A new social media platform, Lifteller, has launched in Nigeria with a model that combines social networking and digital giving, allowing users to support individuals and communities facing different needs.
The platform was unveiled in Lagos over the weekend and gives users the option to “Offer a Lift,” “Request a Lift” or “Raise a Lift” for people in need. Support can be provided either in cash or through physical items, depending on what is required.
The platform is designed to cover a wide range of needs, including food, housing, transportation, medical expenses, school fees and business capital. Users can also offer items such as clothing, books, laptops and other equipment.
Founder and Chairman of Lifteller, Uche Elekwachi, said the platform was created from the belief that technology can help people work together to address everyday challenges.
“What does it mean to be human? As human beings, we are meant to help one another. Lifteller is about the fusion of goodness,” Elekwachi said, explaining that the platform is based on the idea that resources exist to meet people’s needs, but are not always evenly available to everyone.
He clarified that Lifteller is not a lending or borrowing platform. According to him, money transferred through the platform is given freely, with users able to move funds from their Lifteller wallets directly to beneficiaries.
“Whatever you give is given freely. Lifteller is a free gift platform,” he said.
Lifteller is available through its website as well as Android and iOS applications. To improve transparency, people making requests are required to provide supporting evidence. The platform also has reporting and monitoring systems designed to identify suspicious activities and deactivate fraudulent accounts.
Managing Director and CEO, Akinshola Samuel Akinde, said the platform goes beyond financial assistance by allowing users to provide practical support to people who need specific items or resources.
He cited examples such as raising resources for out of school children, providing laptops for technology learners and supplying sewing machines for fashion students. According to him, users can post such requests, indicate their interest in supporting them and have the items verified and delivered.
Akinde also said Lifteller monitors transactions in real time as part of its efforts to limit fraudulent activity. He described trust as one of the platform’s key strengths.
The platform is also backed by financial infrastructure partnerships and is holding discussions aimed at strengthening its payment and financial services capabilities.
Speaking at the launch, leadership and social development expert Dr Ameenah Adebayo Shittu described Lifteller as an example of technology being used intentionally to address everyday human needs.
She said meaningful innovation should focus on solving ordinary human problems effectively and commended the platform for placing technology at the service of people.
Fidelity Bank General Manager, Richard Madiebo, described Lifteller as a new development in digital giving, noting that it could provide individuals and communities with another way to support causes that matter to them.
The launch also featured a demonstration by artiste Dr Okey Justice Martins, popularly known as J Martins, who used the platform to give N200,000 to fans.
“There’s a lot of need around us. N500, N1,000, and N5,000 can bring lots of comfort to families,” J Martins said, urging people to support others through the platform.
Lifteller is targeting two million users by December 2026 and is exploring possible collaborations with the National Youth Service Corps for community projects and donor organisations for interventions in rural communities.
The company is also developing additional features, including “JamLifts,” which is expected to help students raise money for examination fees.
For Elekwachi, the vision extends beyond Nigeria. He said Lifteller is being developed with a global ambition, built around the belief that compassion and the desire to help others are shared across societies.
“It’s not just about Nigeria; it’s about the world. What is constant is that love is constant; compassion exists anywhere in the world,” he said.
