Fintech companies offers support for #EndSARS protests

A number of tech companies have come out to offer their  support to the #ENDSARS campaign since the commencement of the full-blown nationwide protests last week.

 Some of these companies raised funds and produced passionate social media content to further the #EndSARS campaign across social media.

The #EndSARS campaign which had begun in 2016 was restarted this month after a video emerged online sowing a bolt rider being assaulted by moments of the SARS operatives.

The campaign then gained more momentum when another video clip online showed a man reportedly killed by SARS officers and an elderly man weeping heart wrenching tears after his only son was killed by SARS.

The ongoing campaign against Police brutality has brought about a dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General of Police IGP Muhammed Adamu, the IGP later on came out to say there would be a new unit called SWAT that would be put in place to replace the disbanded SARS.

Nigerian youths Nationwide have however refused this new unit and have since trended the hashtag #EndSWAT on social media.

Some of the supports from tech companies so far includes :

Flutterwave Inc.

Announced via the twitter handle of the Co-founder and CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, payments solutions company, @theflutterwave is supporting the #EndSARS protest through a donation fund, to help with medical bills for those injured and protest organisers against police brutality.

Paystack

Nigerian fintech startup, paystack  donated N1 million to the Flutterwave Women’s Coalition fund to provide food, water, first aid kits and other necessities to #EndSARS protesters.

Softcom

The software company, Softcom together with its subsidiary fintech Eyowo, also donated N1 million to the Flutterwave Women’s Coalition fund to settle medical and legal needs for #EndSARS protesters.

Bundle Africa

Cash/Crypto social payments company, Bundle Africa has contributed 2,145 BUSD (dollar-based Stable coins) worth N1 million to both the #EndSARS Flutterwave Staff fund and Women’s Coalition fund.

Bundle Africa CEO, Yele Badamosi also announced a personal contribution of N500,000.

PiggyVest

PiggyVest is a fintech startup that enables users to save and invest money through its app.

The savings platform posted a tweet with an image of three raised clenched fists to express its backing for the #EndSARS protests.

Rise Vest

Rise Vest is a financial services company which provides global dollar investment opportunities in US stocks, real estate for users.

Others

It is important to mention the contribution of other companies that have added their voices to the #EndSARS campaign.

These include Safeboda, Abeg Technologies, Ventures Park and Cowrywise.

Other notable tech media startups – TechCabal and Techpoint also joined the #EndSARS protests trend with instructive content.

Tech Entrepreneurs including Future Africa CEO, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Fola Olatunj-David, Victor Asemote, Yele Badamosi, Moe, Kola Aina, Adewale Yusuf, Former Minister, Omobola Johnson, Kola Oyeneyin, Dr Ola Brown and Mark Essien have been actively tweeting supportive messages and gave the trend an indelible force.