Nigeria’s online travel agency, Wakanow has raised $40 million from The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager. According to reports, equity came from Carlyle’s Sub-Saharan Africa fund and further financial details were not disclosed.
Speaking on the new funding Obinna Ekezie, Co-Founder and CEO, Wakanow said: “We are excited to partner with Carlyle as we continue to grow and expand in Africa and beyond.
“Carlyle’s global footprint and scale, as well as its extensive experience and network in the online travel sector, will help us to further develop our offerings and broaden our customer base.”
This investment adds to Carlyle’s experience in the online travel sector, where it has invested in companies such as C-trip, one of the major online travel agencies operating across China, the Latin American travel and tour operator CVC Brasil, and Vasco Turismo, one of the largest travel operations groups in Peru.
“Wakanow has experienced incredible growth since inception, disrupting the travel market and taking market share both online and offline,” Idris Mohammed, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group, said.
“We believe that this strong growth trajectory will continue as Wakanow benefits from an expanding middle class across the continent in addition to increasing internet penetration and mobile connectivity, which is driving increased online traffic. We look forward to working with Wakanow’s management team to help them deliver on their vision for growth and expansion.”
