Nigerian startup Ojamaker launches AI-powered platform that turns social media sellers into online store owners in under five minutes

The e-commerce tool connects WhatsApp checkout, local payment systems and logistics providers into a single platform aimed at merchants who currently run their businesses through DMs and manual transfers

Ojamaker, a Nigerian startup founded in late 2025, has launched an e-commerce platform designed for merchants across Africa who currently operate through social media channels, processing orders through Instagram DMs, WhatsApp messages and manual bank transfers. The platform allows a seller to set up a functioning online store in under five minutes, with integrated payments, logistics and AI tools built into the system from the start.

The product targets a specific gap in how commerce works across much of the continent. Millions of businesses sell through social media, where product discovery happens on Instagram, negotiations move to WhatsApp, payments are handled through manual transfers and delivery is coordinated through calls and messages. The seller typically has no centralised record of customers, no structured inventory system and no ownership of the platform they sell on. A banned account or a platform outage can disrupt an entire business overnight.

Ojamaker's platform attempts to move these sellers into a structured e-commerce environment without requiring the technical setup, design decisions and integrations that traditional online store builders demand. Each store comes with a custom domain, SSL security, customer data ownership and built-in analytics. The seller retains control of their customer list and brand identity rather than depending on social media algorithms for visibility.

The AI layer handles several functions that would typically require separate tools or staff. An automated sales agent responds to customer enquiries around the clock, understands the store's inventory and guides buyers to checkout. A store management tool tracks inventory and identifies trends. An image enhancement feature converts mobile phone photos into higher-quality product images. Automated tagging generates search-optimised product descriptions from uploaded images. A visual search function lets customers upload a photo of an item they want and find matching products in the store.

On the payments and logistics side, the platform integrates with Paystack and Flutterwave, two of the most widely used payment processors in African markets, supporting card payments, USSD and bank transfers. For delivery, merchants connect to local logistics providers through the platform, generate shipping labels and track orders from a single dashboard. A WhatsApp checkout option allows buyers to complete purchases within the messaging app while the seller's backend remains structured and synchronised.

For South African merchants and small businesses operating through social platforms, the model addresses many of the same friction points visible in the local market. While South Africa has more developed e-commerce infrastructure than many African countries, a significant portion of small and micro sellers still operate through social channels and face the same challenges around payment tracking, customer data ownership and platform dependency. The continent-wide approach Ojamaker is taking, with local payment integration and logistics network connections, would need to extend to South African payment providers and courier services to gain traction in the market.

The platform launched with coverage focused on West African markets, where social commerce volumes are highest. Ojamaker has not yet disclosed user numbers, funding details or a timeline for expansion into Southern African markets.