How Nkeji is making travel more accessible for immigrants, Gen Z

Travel should be accessible to everyone, yet many immigrants and Gen Z travellers face financial barriers due to outdated credit systems. Emeka Ogbuabo, CEO, Nkeji saw this gap and built a solution—flexible travel financing that lets users book flights and hotels without traditional credit checks. In this interview, he shared how Nkeji’s products make travel easier, smarter, and more inclusive.

Can you walk us through the why behind the Nkeji and how you turned the idea into reality?

Every great business starts with a problem. For me, it was watching countless immigrants and individuals with low credit scores struggle to book flights, hotels, and holidays because traditional lenders wouldn’t take a chance on them. I saw friends, family, and even customers forced to delay important trips—whether for work, family reunions, or even funerals—simply because they didn’t have access to flexible payment options.

That frustration led to a question: What if travel financing worked differently? What if we could underwrite credit based on real cash flow rather than outdated credit scores? Building on that, we’ve developed 2 products – Fly now pay later (installment payment after you’ve passed an affordability check and fly small small (installment payment before you travel, no checks!) That’s where Nkeji was born.

Many Gen Z travellers and immigrants struggle with upfront travel costs. How does Nkeji make travel more accessible?

The reality is that many Gen Z travellers and immigrants want to explore the world, visit family, or chase new opportunities, but upfront travel costs hold them back. Traditional lenders don’t always cater to them, especially if they have low credit scores or limited credit history—which is common among young people and immigrants.

Nkeji makes travel more accessible by allowing users to pay in installments, eliminating the burden of upfront costs. Travellers can choose “” to pay in advance over three months or “Fly Now Pay Later” to spread costs over six months, offering flexibility to fit different budgets. Unlike traditional lenders, Nkeji assesses financial behaviour in real-time rather than relying on outdated credit scores, ensuring that even those without a strong credit history can access travel financing. Additionally, a price lock guarantee lets users secure flight and hotel prices for up to three months, protecting them from last-minute price hikes.

Beyond financing, Nkeji promotes financial inclusion, helping young dreamers and global citizens travel without financial roadblocks. Users also benefit from a loyalty program that rewards responsible payments with travel points, making future trips even more affordable. By breaking traditional barriers, Nkeji empowers more people to explore the world with confidence and ease.

“Fly Small Small” is a game-changer. What inspired this model, and how has it resonated with Gen Z so far?

You know, the inspiration came from watching people—especially Gen Z travellers and immigrants—struggle with upfront travel costs. Flights aren’t getting cheaper, and not everyone has the full amount ready when they need to book. We saw how similar models in the US and Africa were thriving, but in the UK? Nothing at this scale existed. So we thought, why not build it?

Gen Z loves to travel, but they also value flexibility and control over their spending. “Fly Small Small” lets them lock in a flight price and pay in small, manageable chunks—without the stress of last-minute price hikes.

People love that they can finally book flights without waiting until they have the full amount. The fact that we also reward responsible payments with travel perks? That’s been a huge hit. We’re not just financing travel—we’re making it more accessible and rewarding.

What’s been the biggest surprise since launching Nkeji—something you didn’t expect but has impacted your journey?

Honestly, the biggest surprise has been how quickly people see the value in what we’re building. We’re still in private beta with a handful of testers, but the excitement has been unreal. I thought we’d have to do more convincing, but travellers immediately get it—they see how this makes booking flights easier and more accessible.

Another thing that caught me off guard is just how much trust matters in this space. People aren’t just booking trips; they’re trusting us with their plans, their finances, and sometimes even once-in-a-lifetime moments. That’s shaped how we approach everything—from our messaging to how we support our users.

Many fintech startups struggle with trust. How do you convince skeptical travellers to book with Nkeji?

Trust is everything, especially in fintech, and we know travellers can be skeptical—rightfully so. But what’s working in our favour is that we’re still in beta, and that actually helps. Early users see that we’re focused on delivering real value, not just another financing option.

Being a small, almost niche company means we’re able to dig in and support customers in ways bigger players simply don’t. We move fast, offer better rates, and actually listen to feedback. Travelers aren’t just numbers to us—we’re solving problems that have been overlooked for too long.
At the end of the day, trust is built through action. As more people experience the speed, flexibility, and support we provide, that skepticism turns into confidence.

You’ve seen strong early traction—4000+ waitlist signups in a month. What’s fueling this growth?

That was actually in less than a month! We had to close the waitlist because we just didn’t have the capacity to handle more.
What’s fueling the growth? A real, urgent need. Travellers—especially immigrants and Gen Z—have been locked out of flexible travel financing for too long. When they see an option that actually works for them, they jump on it.

Plus, we’re not just another BNPL company. We’re solving a problem at its core—giving people control over how they pay for travel without relying on outdated credit systems. That’s why word-of-mouth has been huge. People are sharing Nkeji because they know others who need it too.

And the fact that we’re still in beta? That’s driving even more interest. Early adopters want to be part of something new—especially when it’s solving a problem they’ve personally faced.

Travel agencies and influencers play a role in your strategy. How are you leveraging partnerships for expansion?

Travel agencies and influencers play a big role in our growth strategy because they help us expand our reach and bring in new customers. With travel agencies, we’re looking to integrate our flexible payment options directly into their booking processes. So, we might offer exclusive discounts or promotional codes for their customers, or even set up commission-based partnerships where they earn a referral fee for each booking made through our platform.

On the influencer side, we really see them as key brand ambassadors. We work with travel influencers to promote the ease and flexibility of our Fly small small options. They help us connect with their followers in a personal, authentic way, which is huge for building trust. They share their own travel stories, showing how they’ve used our service, and that type of content tends to resonate a lot with potential customers.

We also like the idea of joint campaigns with both agencies and influencers, where we can co-brand offers or run special promotions to make the travel experience even more enticing for their audiences. That’s been a great way to boost awareness and get people talking about us. Ultimately, these partnerships help us grow in areas where we might not have as much reach and build credibility with new customer groups.”

Gen Z expects seamless digital experiences. How is Nkeji adapting to their unique travel behaviours?

Gen Z expects seamless, digital-first experiences, so we’re focusing on making Nkeji easy to use and mobile-friendly. The booking process is quick, and they can complete everything—from browsing to paying—digitally, including our flexible payment options.

We’re also personalizing the experience with travel recommendations and rewards that cater to their preferences. Social proof is key for them, so we’re integrating influencer partnerships and user reviews to build trust. Ultimately, it’s about making their travel journey as smooth and convenient as possible.

Immigrants often face credit barriers. How does Nkeji redefine creditworthiness beyond traditional credit scores?

Immigrants, especially those who are new to a country, often face barriers with traditional credit systems. That’s where Nkeji really shines. Instead of relying on traditional credit scores, we use cashflow underwriting and affordability checks to assess creditworthiness. This means we focus on how people manage their income and expenses rather than just a credit score. It’s a more inclusive way to assess someone’s ability to pay for travel.

For example, with our Fly Small Small product, we don’t even require a credit check. It’s all about flexibility—customers can make a 25% down payment and pay the rest over 3 months, allowing them to book their travel without the need for traditional credit checks. We want to make travel accessible to people, regardless of their credit history, and this approach helps break down those barriers.

On the Fly Now Pay Later (FNPL) front, while we’re still working on finalizing it, the goal is the same—empowering customers to book travel with affordable installment plans. We’re prioritizing accessibility, especially for people who might not have access to the usual credit channels, and making sure they have the ability to pay in a way that suits their financial situation

In five years, What kind of future do you envision for Nkeji (acquiring or being acquired?)

In five years? Well, I like to think Nkeji will be a household name in travel, with people booking their dream vacations without worrying about credit scores. Whether we’re acquiring a few competitors along the way or being acquired by a big player who finally realizes we’re the future of travel, I’m open to either! The goal is to keep innovating, creating opportunities, and making travel a reality for everyone—credit scores be darned!

Competitors like Airfordable exist. What makes Nkeji’s model different and more attractive?

While competitors like Airfordable are doing good work, they operate in a different region and focus primarily on flights. Nkeji, on the other hand, stands out by offering a more affordable and flexible solution across all travel verticals—not just flights. Unlike many services that tack on interest rates of up to 35% or more over the repayment period, we keep things simple. We charge a one-time service fee of just 15%, with no hidden fees or sky-high interest charges—just a clear, upfront cost.”

Additionally, our reward system is not just another gimmick—it’s designed to actually benefit our customers. As they use our platform, they earn points that can be redeemed for future travel, making each trip even more affordable and rewarding.

So, in a nutshell, Nkeji is all about offering transparency, low fees, and rewards that genuinely make travel more accessible. It’s not just about booking flights, but about creating long-term value for our customers in ways that credit cards or other models just can’t compete with.”

What’s your long-term strategy for scaling beyond the African diaspora into global markets?

While we’ve been focusing on serving the African diaspora—given the unique travel challenges many immigrants face—our long-term strategy is to expand beyond that and serve a much broader audience. The core problem we’re solving—making travel more accessible through flexible payment options—resonates with people across the globe.

In the next few years, we’re looking to expand into markets like the US and Canada, where there’s a large immigrant population that faces similar challenges around credit access and affordability. But it doesn’t stop there—our vision is truly global. We’re looking to tap into emerging markets where travel is growing rapidly, as well as developed markets where more people are seeking flexible payment solutions over traditional credit cards.

As we scale, we’ll focus on creating partnerships with global travel agencies, airlines, and financial institutions to make our platform even more seamless. Our goal is to build a global travel payment ecosystem that allows everyone—no matter where they are—to book and experience travel without the stress of traditional financing.

If you could change one thing about the travel finance industry today, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about the travel finance industry today, it would be to eliminate the reliance on traditional credit scores as the primary factor in determining someone’s eligibility for travel finance. Too many people are excluded from the travel experience because of rigid credit systems that don’t reflect their true financial picture.

At Nkeji, we’ve already moved beyond that by using cashflow underwriting and affordability checks instead of credit scores. I’d love to see the whole industry shift toward a more inclusive, flexible model that takes into account how people actually manage their finances, rather than just their credit history. The world is such a beautiful place and We’re on a mission to enable as much people as we can to see as much of the world they can. Travel should be a right, not a privilege, and finance needs to catch up with that reality.