Vaenine: Event Platform for Nigeria
Rethinking how Nigerians discover, attend, and host events with a culturally intuitive and reliable platform
The Challenge
When I was assigned Vaenine as a product design project, I knew right away that it was more than just an academic exercise. It was an opportunity to rethink how Nigerians discover, attend, and host events. Nigeria is a country that thrives on social connection. From weddings and owambes, to music concerts, startup meetups, and faith-based gatherings, events are woven deeply into our culture.
Yet, the digital infrastructure supporting these experiences is fragmented, unintuitive, and often disconnected from the realities of Nigerian users.
"How might we create a clean, culturally intuitive, and reliable event platform designed from the ground up for Nigerians?"
My goal with Vaenine was not just to create a platform for ticketing, but to design a holistic, user-centered ecosystem that makes events seamless, delightful, and culturally resonant.
Understanding the Problem
Events are central to Nigerian culture, but existing platforms don't fully solve the challenges faced by both organizers and attendees. Through initial research, interviews, and secondary data, I uncovered some key issues:
Payment & Accessibility Issues
Global platforms lack local payment systems like Paystack, Flutterwave, and USSD transfers that Nigerians rely on.
Poor Event Discovery
People learn about events through word of mouth, WhatsApp groups, or Instagram posts rather than dedicated platforms.
Complex Organizer Experience
Setting up events is overwhelming with too many steps and insufficient guidance for organizers.
Payout System Problems
Payout systems aren't streamlined for Nigerian banks or fintech wallets, causing cashflow issues.
Trust & Reliability Concerns
Users fear scams or fake events with weak trust signals and unclear refund policies.
"Sometimes I buy a ticket but I'm scared if it's real or not. I prefer when my friend just sends me details on WhatsApp."— Event Attendee
Research Phase
To ground Vaenine in real needs, I used a comprehensive research approach that included user interviews, surveys, and secondary research to understand the Nigerian event ecosystem.
I interviewed 12 potential users—six regular event attendees (students, professionals, and nightlife enthusiasts), and six small-to-mid scale organizers (church groups, campus leaders, promoters). Additionally, I conducted a survey of 50 people using Google Forms.
Mobile-First Discovery
78% of users rely on Instagram and WhatsApp to discover events, indicating a need for social-first discovery features.
Payment Abandonment
65% of users have abandoned event purchases due to payment issues, highlighting the critical need for local payment integration.
Trust Through Social Proof
Users prefer when friends send event details on WhatsApp, showing trust is built through social connections rather than platform features.
Speed Over Features
Organizers want to upload details fast and share links quickly, prioritizing simplicity over advanced customization.
User Personas
Based on my research, I created detailed personas representing the diverse range of users in the Nigerian event ecosystem. These personas helped guide design decisions and ensure the platform would serve real user needs.
Chioma Adeyemi, 28
Event Planner
Lekki, Lagos
High tech comfort - uses both laptop and phone
Goals:
- ✓Quickly create and publish professional event pages
- ✓Monitor ticket sales in real time
- ✓Access attendee lists and check-in details easily
- ✓Impress her clients with a credible, modern platform
Frustrations:
- ✗Time-consuming manual processes
- ✗Cluttered websites that confuse attendees
- ✗Lack of real-time reporting
Tunde Akintola, 24
Junior Software Developer
Abuja
Very high tech comfort - comfortable on both laptop and phone
Goals:
- ✓Discover events easily by interest and location
- ✓See clear information on pricing, venue, and timing
- ✓Complete fast, simple checkout with instant confirmation
- ✓Store tickets digitally for check-in
Frustrations:
- ✗Slow-loading websites
- ✗Hidden fees at checkout
- ✗Lack of confirmation after payment
Bisi Alabi, 46
Community Organizer & Fellowship Coordinator
Ibadan
Moderate tech comfort - prefers straightforward, easy-to-read websites
Goals:
- ✓Create event pages without technical knowledge
- ✓Provide stress-free attendee registration
- ✓Download and print attendee lists
Frustrations:
- ✗Complicated websites with too many steps
- ✗Small, unreadable fonts
- ✗Systems that require too much setup
David Okon, 21
Undergraduate Student & Campus Event Promoter
Nsukka
Very high tech comfort - almost everything done through phone browser
Goals:
- ✓Quickly create attractive event pages
- ✓Track sales in real time
- ✓Verify tickets at the gate using digital codes or printed lists
Frustrations:
- ✗Manual gate control and fake entries
- ✗Platforms that feel too formal and not youth-friendly
- ✗Attendees abandoning checkout due to slow websites
Kemi Lawal, 35
HR Manager at Tech Company
Victoria Island, Lagos
High tech comfort - experienced with corporate platforms
Goals:
- ✓Handle bulk registrations efficiently
- ✓Generate and export attendance reports
- ✓Share event details in a professional way
Frustrations:
- ✗Casual-looking platforms that don't fit corporate needs
- ✗Poor analytics and reporting options
- ✗Difficulty exporting data into Excel or PDF
Competitor Analysis
Before designing anything, I treated the landscape like a user would: I explored where people currently discover and buy tickets, what tools organizers rely on, and — most importantly — where existing platforms fail Nigerian users.
I analyzed three key players: Eventbrite, Tix Africa, and Ticket Fairy, focusing on their UX choices, trust-building mechanisms, and where Vaenine could create differentiated value.
Eventbrite
Strengths
- ✓Clean, familiar information architecture
- ✓Conversion-focused checkout flow
- ✓Strong ecosystem and integrations
Weaknesses
- ✗Limited local payment optimization for Nigeria
- ✗Trust friction in support & refunds
- ✗Cultural distance from Nigerian event types
Key Learning
Keep simple, proven flow patterns but localize every microdecision
Tix Africa
Strengths
- ✓Local-first stance with cultural relevance
- ✓Fast onboarding for organizers
- ✓Transparent pricing structure
Weaknesses
- ✗Crowded interface and inconsistent hierarchy
- ✗Limited engagement hooks
- ✗Poor analytics & growth tooling
Key Learning
Adopt localized taxonomy and pricing transparency with cleaner visual hierarchy
Ticket Fairy
Strengths
- ✓Referral & reward mechanics baked into UX
- ✓Marketing-forward dashboards
- ✓Enterprise & white-label availability
Weaknesses
- ✗Reputation/fulfillment noise in certain markets
- ✗Not always culturally contextualized
- ✗Aggressive marketing claims without operational safeguards
Key Learning
Build referral and rewards as first-class UX elements with visible financial guarantees
The Solution
Based on my research and competitor analysis, I designed Vaenine as a holistic event platform that addresses the unique needs of the Nigerian market through culturally relevant features and local optimizations.
Smart Event Discovery
Location-aware suggestions, curated feeds like "Campus Gigs" and "Startup Sha!", and trending badges for better event visibility.
Local Payment Integration
Multiple local payment options (Paystack, Flutterwave, Opay, USSD) with option to split payments with friends.
WhatsApp & SMS Delivery
Tickets delivered instantly via WhatsApp, SMS, and email, optimized for Nigerian communication preferences.
Guided Event Creation
Easy event setup with live previews, streamlined payout setup for Nigerian banks and fintech wallets.
Analytics Dashboard
Real-time ticket sales graphs, attendee demographics, and top traffic sources for data-driven decisions.
Gamified Retention
Points for attending and organizing, loyalty tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold), and community features like WhatsApp groups.
Final Designs
General Pages
Public-facing pages and user interface components that provide the core user experience.
User Interface & Public Pages
Complete set of pages covering authentication, navigation, content, and user account management.
Login Page
Page 1 of 12
Signup Page
Page 2 of 12
Home Page
Page 3 of 12
Explore Events
Page 4 of 12
Event Details
Page 5 of 12
User Dashboard
Page 6 of 12
User Profile
Page 7 of 12
Saved Events
Page 8 of 12
Tickets & Bookings
Page 9 of 12
Blog & News
Page 10 of 12
About Page
Page 11 of 12
Help & Support
Page 12 of 12
Create New Event Flow
A guided, step-by-step process that helps organizers create professional events without overwhelming them with options.
Event Creation Process
The flow takes organizers through 7 clear steps, from initial event setup to final publishing, with live previews and validation at each stage.
Event Creation Start
Step 1 of 7
Event Details
Step 2 of 7
Date & Time Setup
Step 3 of 7
Location & Venue
Step 4 of 7
Ticket Configuration
Step 5 of 7
Payment Setup
Step 6 of 7
Event Preview & Publish
Step 7 of 7
Admin Dashboard
Comprehensive admin interface for platform management, user oversight, and system analytics.
Admin Management Interface
Complete administrative control with user management, event oversight, and financial tracking.
Admin Dashboard
Admin Page 1 of 4
Admin Event Management
Admin Page 2 of 4
Admin Payouts
Admin Page 3 of 4
User Management
Admin Page 4 of 4
Organizer Dashboard
Intuitive organizer interface for event creation, management, and performance tracking.
Organizer Management Interface
User-friendly tools for event organizers to create, manage, and analyze their events effectively.
Organizer Dashboard
Organizer Page 1 of 5
Analytics & Reports
Organizer Page 2 of 5
Event Management
Organizer Page 3 of 5
Feedback & Reviews
Organizer Page 4 of 5
Payouts & Earnings
Organizer Page 5 of 5
Impact & Reflection
Vaenine was built with the potential to reshape event culture in Nigeria. By centralizing event discovery, it helps attendees easily find reliable events beyond scattered sources, while also giving organizers a professional platform that streamlines ticketing, attendee management, and reporting.
The emphasis on simplicity, trust, and cultural relevance makes it more than just a design exercise — it is a scalable foundation that could improve discoverability, boost efficiency, and raise professionalism across the Nigerian event ecosystem.
"The battle for event market share in Nigeria won't be won by copying features — it will be won by designing trust and flow that match local life."