Celevend targets Nigeria’s events industry with digital booking platform

A Lagos-based startup, Celevend, has launched a mobile marketplace aimed at transforming Nigeria’s multi-billion-dollar events industry by introducing structured booking, transparent pricing, and secure payment systems. Nigeria’s events sector, estimated to be worth over $2 billion, has long operated largely on informal arrangements, with vendor hiring typically conducted through word-of-mouth referrals, social media interactions, and […]

A Lagos-based startup, Celevend, has launched a mobile marketplace aimed at transforming Nigeria’s multi-billion-dollar events industry by introducing structured booking, transparent pricing, and secure payment systems.

Nigeria’s events sector, estimated to be worth over $2 billion, has long operated largely on informal arrangements, with vendor hiring typically conducted through word-of-mouth referrals, social media interactions, and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp.

Industry observers note that this system has created challenges for both vendors and clients, including lack of pricing transparency, limited accountability, and difficulty in verifying service quality.

“Vendors largely operate from social media profiles with little or no booking records, while clients rely heavily on reputation,” a market analyst said. “This limits growth for small businesses and creates uncertainty for customers.”

Celevend seeks to address these gaps by aggregating event service providers into a single digital platform. The app connects users to vendors across more than 24 service categories, including photography, catering, decoration, DJ services, makeup, venues, and baking.

According to the company, over 400 vendors have already been onboarded nationwide since its launch, with the platform available for download on both iOS and Android devices.

Through the app, customers can browse verified vendor profiles, compare pricing, view portfolios, read client reviews, and make secure payments—replacing the traditional reliance on informal agreements and direct cash transfers.

For vendors, Celevend offers free digital storefronts, enabling them to showcase their services, manage bookings, and expand their reach beyond immediate networks.

The platform is also positioned to serve Nigeria’s diaspora community, which often faces challenges when planning events back home due to limited visibility into vendor availability and pricing. By centralising this information, Celevend aims to simplify remote event planning and reduce coordination challenges.

Founder of the platform, Kelvin Atemie-Hart, declined to provide detailed information on the company’s revenue model or funding but stated that the focus remains on improving accessibility for vendors and ensuring secure, seamless experiences for customers.

Analysts say the emergence of platforms like Celevend could signal a broader shift toward formalisation and digitisation in Nigeria’s events industry, moving it away from informal networks toward more structured, technology-driven operations.