Tally AI Limited has introduced a personal finance assistant powered by artificial intelligence to enhance the financial well-being of Nigerian families and workers, coinciding with International Workers' Day celebrations.
Launch Event in Lagos
Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Francis Ahaotu, explained that the platform was developed to tackle a key issue many Nigerians face: the difficulty of accurately tracking income and expenses in real time. He stated, "We believe every Nigerian worker deserves to know exactly where their money goes. Workers' Day felt like the most appropriate moment to introduce a solution built specifically for them." Ahaotu emphasized that the timing was deliberate and reflects the company's mission to empower Nigerian workers with greater visibility and control over their finances.
Shift in Fintech Landscape
As Nigeria's fintech sector continues to grow, the arrival of Tally AI represents a move toward more accessible and user-friendly financial tools, especially those that integrate smoothly with existing digital habits. For many Nigerian workers, this platform could offer a practical step toward achieving better financial clarity and stability.
Background and Vision
Ahaotu, who has a background in network security and digital solutions, shared his vision of making financial guidance available to all Nigerians, regardless of income level or financial literacy. "Everyone should have access to a personal accountant. Tally AI is our way of making that possible," he said.
How to Access the Service
To use the service, users need to have WhatsApp installed, be at least 18 years old, and complete a simple registration process. The platform is designed for personal and small business financial tracking, with users responsible for the accuracy of the data they provide.
Unique Features
Ahaotu highlighted the platform's uniqueness in terms of accessibility, local relevance, and voice integration. Tally AI understands multiple languages, including English, Nigerian Pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, enabling it to interpret everyday expressions commonly used in financial conversations. By leveraging WhatsApp, the service removes the learning curve associated with traditional fintech platforms, allowing users to interact with the system as they would in a normal chat.
Tangible Benefits
Beyond convenience, the platform is designed to deliver tangible benefits such as improved financial awareness, automatic expense categorization, better budget control, disciplined savings habits, and regular insights into spending behavior. The core service is currently offered free of charge.
Beta Testing Phase
Before its official launch, Tally AI underwent a six-week private beta phase involving 27 users across Lagos and other parts of the country. During the trial, participants logged hundreds of real-life transactions, including fuel purchases, school fees, salary inflows, and business earnings—all through WhatsApp.
No Installation Required
Unlike conventional financial applications, Tally AI does not require installation. The service operates entirely on WhatsApp, allowing users to activate their personal finance assistant by saving a designated number and sending a message. Within minutes, the system becomes operational, eliminating the need for downloads, complex registration processes, or upfront payments.
Additional Features
In addition to basic tracking, the service offers budget alerts, savings goal monitoring, weekly financial reports, and AI-driven insights based on spending patterns. It also supports voice notes, automatically transcribing spoken inputs into financial records—a feature designed to align with the communication habits of many Nigerians.
Data Protection and Security
On data protection, the company emphasized that security remains a top priority. Tally AI incorporates end-to-end encryption, secure password hashing, token-based authentication, and infrastructure-level protections against cyber threats. It also relies on WhatsApp's encryption system and does not store users' payment card details. The platform complies with Nigeria's Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), and users retain full control over their data, including the option to request deletion at any time.
