When most people think of sending money abroad, they imagine a son wiring money back home, or a daughter covering school fees for her siblings. It’s emotional, sometimes stressful, but always personal, according to our Yolat data.
For Makir, a Canadian-born entrepreneur, money transfers aren’t about upkeep. They’re about building businesses and data centers. They’re for big, ambitious projects that require serious liquidity. And the best part about it is that he’s doing all of this in Nigeria without having a local bank account.
For a country where six in ten people are still offline because even basic smartphones and data are out of reach, that’s nothing short of a huge feat, and that’s exactly why we sat down with him. To learn how Yolat became the driving force behind his story.
So, who are you? Let’s start there.
My name’s Makir. I live in Canada, but my business, a data center company, has expanded into Nigeria. I’m not a Nigerian, so I have no NIN, no local citizenship, or anything that could help me open a local bank account. Then I discovered Yolat, and suddenly I had a way to send money in, quickly and efficiently, to keep everything running.
Okay, so what’s the most memorable reason you’ve ever sent money abroad?
Business. Always business. Liquidity is the most important part of everything I do. Without it, civil works stall, and nothing really moves. That’s the most memorable because that’s what needs to be done.
Do you have family you send money to abroad?
Not really. I was born and raised in Canada; my family’s all here. My transfers aren’t about remittances. The money I send abroad is mainly for business and opportunities, so I’m not the one using it for remittance. I’m basically using it to build factories.
And what did it feel like the first time you sent money to Nigeria for business?
Empowered. That’s the word. It was like, wow, I can grow something from Canada and at the same time empower people locally in Nigeria. That’s freedom. That’s the kind of feeling that keeps you chasing bigger things.
But I bet it hasn’t been all smooth sailing? Was there anything challenging or surprising about it?
Not at all. The biggest challenge was always: I’m not Nigerian. Without a NIN, I couldn’t even open a local bank account. Imagine trying to do business but being locked out of the financial system. The challenges were there, but when I use Yolat, I don’t necessarily need to use a local traditional bank and that makes things easier.
What’s been your toughest experience trying to send money?
The receiving end, no doubt. In Canada, sending money from one account to another is instant and easy. In Nigeria, the hard part is always getting money in from outside. And honestly, that’s the exact problem Yolat solves. I feel like Yolat is answering that problem directly and with people who are more agile with technology. That makes things smooth and more efficient.
Now, here’s the big one: obligation or love? Which one drives you?
It’s absolutely an act of obligation because I have to keep the business running.
Tell me one story that sums up how Yolat really helped you. A story you want everyone to hear.
Before the data center was even built, I flew in from Canada to Nigeria for just some side exploration. I had to be on the ground, and I had to be moving around, booking hotels and cars. I just had to essentially make things work for me in Nigeria to do this. I don’t have a bank account in Nigeria, but I had to function and get around the country as if I did. That is the story I want to tell because Yolat literally helped me be mobile in Nigeria without needing a bank account.
I could literally function as a foreigner easily in the country with Yolat. Every day, I’d log into the app, convert stablecoins on the spot, and pay whoever needed to be paid. I never had to carry wads of cash or stress about ATMs. And if I ever needed actual cash, I’d just transfer to a local contact.
That’s my story, I’ve been able to live and do business in Nigeria without having or needing a bank account through this app. It’s very convenient.
If you had to sum it up in one phrase?
It is an empowering tool for modern-day businesses, and that’s where I’ll leave it.
That’s perfect. Thank you so much for your time. I’m glad you’re able to share your story and with other people out there.
Yolat isn’t just for remittances. For Makir, it’s the bridge that lets him dream bigger and do business conveniently in Nigeria like a local without an NIN or a bank account.
That’s how easy and convenient it is with Yolat. You don’t have to stress about the small or the big things.
Have a Yolat Money Story you want to share with us today? Send us a DM now.
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