Passionate to support the growth of student entrepreneurs and solve the clutter caused by business promotions in academic group chats, Boluwatife Okeowo, a final year BBA Entrepreneurship student recently developed an App dubbed “ACitizen Cart” to empower students to showcase their businesses in a more organised and effective way.
Inspired by her own challenges as an introverted business owner, Okeowo identified the need for a committed space to promote student products and services without overwhelming class WhatsApp groups.
The “ACitizen Cart” app allows users to register, create business profiles, list services or products, and enable other students to browse and make purchases. Whether selling handmade goods, offering tutoring services, or providing tech solutions, the platform makes it easy for students to connect with potential buyers across campus
Speaking on the initiative, Ms. Boluwatife Okeowo remarked, “While I understand the excitement of sharing flyers and promotions, it often distracts from the core purpose of these groups. I wanted to create something that helps students like me promote their businesses in an organised and professional manner.”
Recounting the challenges she faced, she said, “Launching the platform did not come without its fair share of hurdles. From finding a skilled coder to bring my vision to life, to convincing skeptical vendors to come on board, I had to dedicate a lot of time to explaining the platform’s benefits and building trust. Additionally, getting the campus community to adapt to this new way of shopping and selling was no small task.”
Today, the platform is gaining traction, with vendors actively engaging and buyers appreciating the simplicity and convenience it offers. Students no longer have to scroll endlessly through group chats looking for prices or contacts as it is now all in one place.
Looking ahead, Ms. Okeowo expressed her intention to collaborate with student organisations and administrators at other universities to expand the platform’s reach. The goal is to create a vibrant network of student entrepreneurs across multiple campuses.
The “ACitizen Cart” app is not only transforming how students do business on campus but also inspiring a generation of young entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas with purpose and passion.
