Nigerian startup helps local churches digitise operations

The O'Sanctus app allows Catholics to attend virtual services, reserve time with priests and make financial offerings amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, shown on a laptop screen. — Reuters

LAGOS: Henry Okolo has grown accustomed to using his phone to stay in touch with God during the coronavirus pandemic. He uses an app every Sunday morning to listen to a virtual service in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos.

Okolo, a father-of-two, has used it to help his family pray at home following the closure of churches in March. Lagos state, with more than 15,000 confirmed infections and about 200 deaths, has the largest share of Nigeria's about 45,000 Covid-19 cases. The O'Sanctus app, created last year by Nigerian tech firm Applus Dome Limited, allows Catholics to attend virtual services, reserve time with priests and make financial offerings. "It made so many things easy for us," said Okolo.