Tally AI Limited has launched its personal finance assistant to improve the financial well-being of Nigerian families and workers in commemoration of International Workers’ Day.

Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Francis Ahaotu, said the platform, powered by AI, was created to address a fundamental challenge faced by many Nigerians – the inability to accurately track income and expenses in real time.

“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.

“It is intentional, and reflects the company’s mission to empower Nigerian workers with better visibility and control over their finances,” he said.

As Nigeria’s fintech sector continues to evolve, the introduction of Tally AI signals a shift toward more accessible, user-friendly financial tools, particularly those that integrate seamlessly with existing digital habits. For many Nigerian workers, the platform may offer a practical step toward achieving greater financial clarity and stability.

Ahaotu, who has a background in network security and digital solutions, said his vision is to make financial guidance accessible 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.

To access the service, users must have WhatsApp installed, be at least 18 years old, and complete a simple registration process. The platform is intended for personal and small business financial tracking, with users responsible for the accuracy of the data they provide.

Ahaotu noted that the platform’s uniqueness lies in its accessibility, local relevance, and voice integration. According to him, Tally AI understands multiple languages, including English, Nigerian Pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, enabling it to interpret everyday expressions commonly used in financial conversations.

He added that 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.

However, beyond convenience, the platform is designed to deliver tangible benefits, including improved financial awareness, automatic expense categorisation, better budget control, disciplined savings habits, and regular insights into spending behaviour. The core service is currently offered free to users.

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 period, participants logged hundreds of real-life transactions, including fuel purchases, school fees, salary inflows, and business earnings – all through WhatsApp.

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 simply 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.

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.

On data protection, the company emphasised 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 is compliant with Nigeria’s Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), and users retain full control over their data, including the option to request deletion at any time.