By Folarin Kehinde

A new technology-driven social support platform, Urgent2K, has launched in Nigeria with an initial target of raising funds to provide emergency financial assistance of ₦2,000 to verified Nigerians.

The platform, which was unveiled in Abuja on Thursday, Independence Day, is positioning micro-giving as a technology-enabled way of connecting Nigerians in need with individuals, diaspora donors, businesses and corporate organisations willing to provide small but immediate financial support.

Speaking at the launch, Managing Director of Urgent2K, Oseagah Solomon, said the immediate objective was to reach Nigerians who require small amounts of money to address urgent needs, while building a system donors can trust.

“Our primary aim for now is to reach out to those Nigerians, every Nigerian that needs this help, this impact,” Solomon said.

He explained that the current version of the platform requires beneficiaries to have an Android phone and at least 10MB of data to access the service, while the company was working towards introducing a USSD option for Nigerians without smartphones.

According to him, the planned USSD channel would broaden access to people in rural communities and others who may not have Android devices.

Solomon said sustainability would depend largely on mobilising Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to contribute relatively small amounts towards emergency interventions.

“Of course, no one has the time to start logging into an app just for ₦2,000, but they are in dire need for that gas, 1kg of gas, transport that will take me out to meet my daily assignment. We are calling on Nigerians to be part of this,” he said.

The Managing Director said the platform was designed around verification, financial accountability and technology safeguards to address concerns over fraud and diversion of funds.

He said Urgent2K had integrated payment gateways and security measures intended to protect both donor funds and users’ data.

On the platform’s growth strategy, he said the company would continue to seek partnerships with businesses and corporate organisations through its Corporate Impact Partnership programme.

The Chief Marketing Officer, Umem Peter, said the project had been in development since 2025 and was designed to provide a digital channel through which Nigerians could request emergency micro-support.

Peter urged potential beneficiaries to download the Urgent2K application from the Google Play Store, register and submit requests for assistance.

He also called on individuals and organisations with the capacity to give to support the initiative.

“We are currently looking out for donors, supporters and people who have the ability to give to Nigerians who are in need of Urgent2K,” Peter said.

He said donations could range from ₦10,000 and ₦20,000 to significantly larger amounts, adding that the organisation was seeking support from individuals, businesses and corporate bodies.

The platform’s launch comes amid growing interest in technology-enabled financial inclusion and digital channels for delivering social assistance.

Urgent2K said its immediate priority was to establish a transparent and verifiable record of disbursements while expanding access beyond smartphone users.

The organisation described its model as “small help, real impact,” with each ₦2,000 intervention intended to provide immediate support for beneficiaries facing urgent expenses.

The company said it would continue working on expanding access and strengthening its verification, fraud-prevention, financial accountability and data-protection systems as the platform grows.