Building Ant has been a journey of discovery for me. One thing I’ve come to see clearly is just how much financial illiteracy and innumeracy are wreaking havoc across Africa. And trust me, it’s a disaster class! From the big bosses at the top to Mama struggling to make ends meet at the bottom, the wahala is real, and the consequences? Very Heavy.
Let me paint you a picture.
On one hand, I have friends — bright minds, running their companies with blood, and sweat. But when you take a closer look at their finances (the bits I can observe from the sidelines), you start seeing the cracks. No budgeting, no savings culture or investments, and — worst is — dipping hands into company accounts for “small” expenses like Friday night drinks. Worst of all? They don’t even pay themselves a salary because why pay a salary to yourself when you’re sitting on the company’s account? you could pretend you’ve paid yourself by the 28th of the month, but someone swallowed a machete on the 7th of the next month, and you need money (an amount you truly can’t afford from your allowances/salary) to save them. I mean, how do you plan to survive if there is a little change in your business or things go south? It’s like watching someone use a sieve to fetch water.
On the other hand, there’s Mum, the MVP of the open market, grinding daily at her shop. She can’t read English, struggles with numbers, and doesn’t know how to work a bank app. Critical digital tools for savings, insurance, and investments? Forget it — she’s been boxed out of the system entirely.
Two different worlds, one common problem: financial or digital illiteracy.
Education clearly isn’t doing much to fix this. Let’s be honest — how many of us went through school and came out knowing how to manage money, save for rainy days, or even calculate interest rates? Exactly. Zero. And I’m sorry, but you can’t “Google your way!” out of this one – even if you can google. Okay, go find somewhere to learn about savings, budgeting, investment, etc then. Where? Nowhere.
Can AI Agent Help?
Now, imagine this. Your mum is trying to save up for a grinding machine, and instead of sweating over account statements she can’t read, she asks the Ant voice agent in Yoruba:
“Ant, how much do I need to save monthly to buy my machine by Christmas?”
And Ant responds, breaking it down in a way that makes sense to her, and starts the savings for her.
Or my friend, who should really stop treating his company’s account like his personal piggy bank, gets a nudge from Ant:
“Oga, you’ve transferred money to yourself 3 times today. Are we sure the company can afford this?”
See where I’m going with this? A personalized banking agent that speaks your language (literally and figuratively), giving you tips, reminders, and maybe the occasional scolding. It’s like having that one sensible friend who knows how to handle money and isn’t afraid to tell you when you’re messing up.
Why Africa Needs This Yesterday
Let’s face it: The continent is brimming with potential, but the gap in financial literacy is holding us back. It’s not just about knowing how to save or budget; it’s about empowerment. Imagine the number of lives we could transform if more people — big bosses and small traders alike — got the financial tools, discipline, and advice they need, tailored to their level of understanding.
Take a look at the numbers. According to EFInA, about 36% of Nigerian adults are financially excluded (I personally think it is far more than 36%). That’s 72 million people! And even among those who have access, how many really understand the systems well enough to thrive? (I had just started investing in ETF, Papers, Bond, Money Market etc).
Ant is betting on inclusion. Whether you’re a CEO blowing through your company’s cash flow or a market woman trying to stretch N500 across the week, there’s room for you.
My Big Bet!
I believe in this so much that I’m betting on Ant to make a difference. Three years from now, I’ll revisit this post to see if we’ve made even a dent in Africa’s financial illiteracy problem. Will the voice agent become the companion that nudges us all towards better financial habits? Will Mama finally know how to save for that grinding machine? Will my CEO friend stop dipping into his company’s account?
Let’s find out together. But for now, I’m putting my money on Ant.
So, what do you think? Can a voice agent really save us from ourselves? Or am I just dreaming big? Drop your thoughts — and maybe your financial regrets — in the comments. Let’s gist!
