LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: Adeola Adebayo’s Nawó Is Saving Nigeria’s Party Culture

In Nigeria, “money spraying” at owambes is a foundational cultural tradition—a visible expression of joy and community. However, recent Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) crackdowns on currency abuse left a vibrant party culture searching for a legal alternative. Enter Adeola Adebayo, the forward-thinking co-founder of Nawó.

Adebayo spent nearly a decade refining a concept to digitize this physical experience. When policy shifts strictly enforced currency protection laws, his long-incubating idea transformed into an essential innovation. Nawó is a digital financial platform designed specifically to replicate the “beautiful chaos” of traditional spraying without breaching legal boundaries.

Through the app, guests send funds directly to hosts while custom animations mimic the visual spectacle of flying naira notes on event screens. By partnering with licensed financial processors, Adebayo keeps Nawó fully compliant with financial regulations while prioritizing the user experience.

Currently onboarding event planners, clubs, and party organizers across Nigeria, Adebayo is scaling Nawó as a bridge between tradition and policy. His innovation proves that cultural heritage doesn’t have to disappear in a cashless economy—it just needs the right technology to evolve.