Ayoba is focused on protecting users’ privacy and
security: it is not possible for
messages in the app to be read by anyone else or to be shared with any third
parties, including MTN. The app features peer-to-peer private messaging which
is end-to-end encrypted; ayoba treats data with the utmost care and respect in
line with its privacy policy.
All the content available on ayoba channels is curated and
reviewed to ensure that its 100% family friendly and safe for younger users. A
team of editors checks every post on ayoba content channels before it goes live
across over 100 content channels and 120 games.
Ayoba has also recently launched an in-app assistant, Aya,
to guide new users on how to use the instant messaging app. Aya appears
automatically in the app and can run a variety of interactive tutorials for key
features within ayoba.
Ayoba users can send and receive encrypted messages, share
photos, videos, files, voice notes and even their location, and can also
subscribe to live channels. Localised content is available through these
channels that aim to entertain, educate and empower communities.
Since 2020, as COVID-19 spread across the world, ayoba’s
daily lifeline data allocations on MTN’s networks in most markets allowed users
free connections with family and provided them with zero-rated access to
credible information through special COVID-19 channels.
The app supports over 20 local languages spoken across MTN’s
markets, including isiZulu, isiXhosa, Pidgin, Yoruba, Swahili, Hausa, French,
Arabic, Portuguese, and English. At the end of June 2020, ayoba had two million
active users.
In November 2020, ayoba was named the ‘Best Mobile App of
the Year’ at the Africa Digital Awards 2020, acknowledging Africa’s first
super-app, which offers users free instant messaging, mobile commerce and