Payaza Launches AI-powered Storefront, Shopaza For Africa’s Cross-border Commerce

Payaza Africa Limited, a leading payments infrastructure company, has unveiled Shopaza, a smart, AI-driven e-commerce platform designed to help African businesses and merchants sell and receive payments more efficiently across-borders.

According to the company, Shopaza enables merchants to access a robust, compliant, and scalable financial backbone, empowering them to sell seamlessly across international markets.

The platform was launched on Thursday in Lagos and is live in the 23 countries across Africa, North America, and Europe where Payaza currently operates.

Speaking at the launch, Seyi Ebenezer, Chief Executive Officer of Payaza Africa, described Shopaza as a major step toward unlocking Africa’s commerce potential.

“Africa’s commerce potential has always been there. What was missing was the infrastructure to unlock it.

“At Payaza, we have spent years building the payments backbone that businesses across this continent rely on. Shopaza is the natural next step—taking everything we have built and putting it directly in the hands of merchants who deserve better tools, better access, and better opportunities.

“Today, we are not just launching a product. We are making a statement that African businesses can compete and win on a global scale. Shopaza is live in 23 countries. The infrastructure is ready, the vision is clear, and we are just getting started,” he said.

Also speaking, Sola Ashiru, Group Head of Marketing and Communications at Payaza Africa, said the platform was developed after a comprehensive assessment of the African e-commerce landscape.

“We studied the African e-commerce ecosystem carefully and identified three critical gaps holding merchants back: limited access to AI-powered tools, weak payments infrastructure, and a broken settlement process. Shopaza was built specifically to close those gaps.

“This is not a rushed product; it is a well-thought-out solution to the most persistent pain points in African commerce today. While we are launching in Nigeria, our operational footprint already spans Africa, North America, and Europe.

“We have also established partnerships with local entities across key markets to drive grassroots adoption. Ultimately, we have solved an African problem, and Africans need to know about it,” he said.

Ashiru further explained that Shopaza offers an all-in-one solution designed to simplify selling and accelerate business growth for merchants.

“The platform features AI-powered onboarding and smart selling tools that enable users to set up quickly, manage storefronts with ease, and optimise pricing and product listings for improved performance.

“Shopaza also provides free, integrated marketing tools to boost visibility and help merchants attract and retain customers without additional costs,” Ashiru noted.

At the event, industry stakeholders spoke on the theme: Building a Scalable E-Commerce Business Across Africa. Panelists included Tracy Ajoku, founder of Saint Tracy’s; Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze, founder of AccountingHub and Chioma Business School; Ola Daramola, CEO and co-founder of Bluebulb Financials; Kelechi Ekugo, Senior Country Director, US-Nigeria Council for Food Security, Trade & Investment and Seun Alley, founder and CEO of Fez Delivery.

Payaza Africa provides payment infrastructure solutions focused on collections, payouts, embedded finance, and digital commerce enablement for businesses across Africa.

The company recently secured strong ratings from four major agencies, reinforcing its credibility in Africa’s financial services space. Payaza recorded across-the-board upgrades, with DataPro moving it from A to AA-, while Intelligence Africa, Agusto, and GCR – a Moody’s affiliate, all rated it A-.