### Terms and Conditions
- [x] I agree to the [Grant Agreement](https://9ba4718…c-5c73-47c3-a024-4fc4e5278803.usrfiles.com/ugd/9ba471_f81ef4e4b5f040038350270590eb2e42.pdf) terms if funded
- [x] I agree to [Provide KYC information](https://9ba4718c-5c73-47c3-a024-4fc4e5278803.usrfiles.com/ugd/9ba471_7d9e73d16b584a61bae92282b208efc4.pdf) if funded above $50,000 USD
- [x] I agree to disclose conflicts of interest
- [x] I agree to adhere to the [Code of Conduct](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zcg-code-of-conduct/41787) and [Communication Guidelines](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zcg-communication-guidelines/44284)
- [x] I understand all milestone deliverables will be validated and accepted by their intended users or their representatives, who will confirm that the deliverables meet the required quality, functionality, and usability for each user story.
- [x] I agree that for any new open-source software, I will create a `CONTRIBUTING.md` file that reflects the high standards of Zcash development, using the [`librustzcash` style guides](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#styleguides) as a primary reference.
- [x] I understand when contributing to existing Zcash code, I am required to adhere to the project specific contribution guidelines, paying close attention to any [merge](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#merge-workflow), [branch](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#branch-history), [pull request](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#pull-request-review), and [commit](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#commit-messages) guidelines as exemplified in the `librustzcash` repository.
- [x] I agree to post request details on the [Community Forum](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/c/grants/33)
- [x] I understand it is my responsibility to post a link to this issue on the [Zcash Community Forums](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/c/grants/33) after this application has been submitted so the community can give input. I understand this is required in order for ZCG to discuss and vote on this grant application.
### Application Owners (@Octocat, @Octocat1)
lisa001 (chidi)
### Organization Name
@zcashNigeria
### How did you learn about Zcash Community Grants
community
### Requested Grant Amount (USD)
68,600
### Category
Community
### Project Lead
```project-lead.yaml
Name: Lisa001 (Chidi Olisa)
Role: Lead, Zcash Nigeria 2026 Program
As Lead of Zcash Nigeria, the role for the 2026 program focuses on providing overall direction, coordination, and execution of all activities designed to expand Zcash’s presence, strengthen community engagement, and drive real-world adoption across the country. Responsibilities include public relations, partnership development, community growth, education, and ecosystem stewardship.
Program Leadership & Coordination
Responsible for supervising, organizing, and coordinating all Zcash Nigeria activities throughout the year. This covers events, contributor programs, translations, university initiatives, content pipelines, regional campaigns, and collaboration with team members to ensure quality, consistency, and measurable impact.
Public Relations & Communications
Acts as the primary public-facing representative of Zcash Nigeria, shaping communications around financial privacy, engaging with media and influencers, and maintaining a strong, consistent presence across social and professional platforms. Ensures that Zcash’s message remains clear, accessible, and relevant within the Nigerian and African context.
Partnership Development
Leads engagement with universities, tech hubs, blockchain communities, businesses, and organizations to expand the reach of Zcash. Builds relationships that unlock collaboration, adoption opportunities, and educational initiatives aligned with privacy-focused technology.
Community Growth, Education & Outreach
Drives expansion of the Zcash Nigeria community across platforms such as X, Telegram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack. Oversees the creation of localized educational content and coordinates meetups, workshops, watch parties, and grassroots activities across various regions, ensuring that Zcash remains accessible to both newcomers and experienced users.
Real-World Adoption Efforts
Leads initiatives that onboard merchants and service providers in Nigeria to accept ZEC for payments. Demonstrates how private digital currency supports everyday commerce, empowers local businesses, and offers practical financial alternatives.
Governance & Ecosystem Contribution
Represents the Nigerian community within the broader Zcash ecosystem through participation in governance conversations, strategic discussions, and cross-team collaboration. As a Zechub DAO board member and official Zcash Arborist Call note-taker, ensures that African perspectives inform ecosystem growth and development.
This role is central to advancing Zcash’s footprint in Nigeria throughout 2026, strengthening infrastructure, expanding community capacity, and promoting financial privacy as an accessible, empowering tool for people across the country.
```
### Additional Team Members
```team-members.yaml
@Cjfrankie – Content Lead, Video Creator & Community Educator
@Cjfrankie is an exceptional member of the Zcash Nigeria team and a seasoned Web3 writer with more than nine years of experience in creative and technical content development. He excels at breaking down complex concepts into clear, engaging, and relatable narratives that resonate with audiences across different backgrounds.
As a long-standing contributor to ZecHub, he has authored high-quality wikis, guides, and educational materials that continue to strengthen the community’s knowledge base. His work reflects a deep understanding of Zcash’s mission, values, and the importance of financial privacy.
his responsibilities include article content writing, video content creation, TikTok educational clips, and oversight of the Zcash Nigeria content pipeline. He also manages Zealy quest tasks, supports community engagement, and contributes to the growth of Zcash Nigeria across all media platforms. His storytelling, video production skills, and community-first approach make him instrumental in driving Zcash education and awareness nationwide.
@Hardaeborla – Creative Designer, Translator & Community Engagement Lead
@Hardaeborla is a dedicated member of the Zcash Nigeria team and a passionate Web3 creator known for impactful visuals, detailed infographics, and compelling educational threads. His content consistently highlights Zcash’s partnerships, ecosystem updates, and core values, making privacy concepts accessible to a wider audience.
He is recognized for creativity, consistency, and strong attention to detail qualities that have made him a key contributor to Zcash Nigeria’s education and outreach efforts. Within the ZecHub ecosystem, he continues to support learning, collaboration, and community growth.
his role includes designing infographics and visual explainers, producing social media content, handling translations for local audiences, hosting Telegram quizzes and fun community activities, and overseeing Daework bounty tasks. He also supports outreach across X, and other platforms. His work continues to strengthen Zcash’s presence and expand its reach across Africa’s Web3 landscape.
@Emmalexo – Community Manager, Adoption Lead & Outreach Coordinator
@Emmalexo is a valued member of the Zcash Nigeria team and a Mechanical Engineering graduate with a strong passion for innovation, grassroots development, and real-world engagement. Despite his engineering background, he has emerged as a dynamic community builder who helps connect Zcash with everyday users and local businesses.
He plays an active role in expanding Zcash adoption across Nigeria by onboarding merchants to accept ZEC and demonstrating the practical benefits of privacy-preserving digital payments. His outreach efforts help educate communities about financial privacy, inclusion, and how Zcash can support underserved groups.
his responsibilities include overseeing community growth efforts, and coordinating local outreach activities. He also leads merchant engagement and supports the execution of physical events and grassroots initiatives. His people-focused approach, strategic thinking, and dedication make him essential to strengthening Zcash’s footprint across Nigeria.
```
### Project Summary
To strengthen a well-informed Zcash community in Nigeria by delivering accurate, accessible, and engaging educational resources, while fostering an inclusive and connected network that supports growth, collaboration, and the adoption of privacy-focused financial solutions.
### Project Description
This project continues the mission to expand the reach of Zcash in Nigeria, raise awareness about the importance of financial privacy, and strengthen the foundation of a vibrant, informed local community. Building on the solid progress achieved in recent months and the significant growth of the Zcash Nigeria community across Twitter (X), Telegram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack, we are now focused on deepening engagement, expanding outreach, and driving broader adoption of Zcash across the country.
With Nigeria’s rapidly growing interest in cryptocurrency and Zcash’s strong privacy features, this next phase emphasizes education, localized content creation, and grassroots activities designed to inform, empower, and inspire both individuals and businesses.
Our Goals
Expand Awareness: Increase public understanding of financial privacy and showcase the unique benefits of Zcash technology to a wider Nigerian audience.
Produce Localized Content: Create high-quality, culturally relevant educational materials infographics, videos, articles, and explainer threads tailored specifically for Nigerian users.
Grow the Community: Build on the momentum of our significantly expanded user base by maintaining consistent, meaningful engagement across Telegram, Twitter (X), TikTok, and other social platforms.
Promote Long-Term Adoption: Establish sustainable systems that keep the community informed, active, and connected to the global Zcash ecosystem through structured learning streams and continuous updates.
Host Local Events: Organize meetups, AMA sessions, university engagements, and collaborations with local blockchain communities to share practical knowledge and promote Zcash awareness.
Encourage Business Adoption: Onboard local merchants to accept ZEC for payments, demonstrating Zcash’s practical benefits and real-world value as a privacy-preserving digital currency.
### Proposed Problem
Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing cryptocurrency markets in the world, yet awareness and understanding of financial privacy remain low. While many Nigerians actively use digital assets, only a small percentage understand the purpose or value of privacy-focused technologies like Zcash. Misconceptions and limited access to reliable information often create hesitation, skepticism, or a complete lack of engagement.
The absence of localized educational resources and dedicated community support further widens this gap. Without clear guidance or a trusted source of Zcash-specific knowledge, many individuals and businesses are unable to benefit from the security, privacy, and empowerment that Zcash provides.
Key Challenges Include:
Limited Access to Accurate Information
Most crypto education efforts in Nigeria focus on trading or mainstream tokens, leaving privacy technologies largely unexplored and misunderstood.
Persistent Misconceptions
Privacy coins are frequently misrepresented or associated with illegal activities, creating fear and reducing trust among potential users and merchants.
Low Merchant Adoption
Few Nigerian businesses currently accept ZEC, limiting opportunities for real-world usage and preventing people from seeing Zcash’s practical value in everyday transactions.
Weak Collaboration Across Communities
There is minimal engagement between Zcash advocates and other Web3, fintech, or privacy-oriented groups, resulting in missed opportunities for partnerships, knowledge-sharing, and ecosystem growth.
### Proposed Solution
To address the challenges facing Zcash awareness and adoption in Nigeria, this project will implement a practical, multi-layered strategy centered on education, community engagement, real-world adoption, and long-term sustainability. The goal is to empower Nigerians with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to confidently use Zcash as a privacy-preserving financial solution.
Education and Awareness
Localized Content Creation
Production of articles, infographics, explainer threads, and short videos tailored to Nigerian audiences, highlighting Zcash’s privacy features, use cases, and advantages.
Social Media Campaigns
Consistent distribution of engaging and informative content across Twitter (X), Telegram, TikTok, Substack, and other platforms to broaden understanding and spark meaningful conversations around financial privacy.
In-Person Events
Organization of regular meetups across major cities and universities. These sessions will introduce new users to Zcash, strengthen community relationships, and offer hands-on demonstrations for sending, receiving, and storing ZEC.
AMA Sessions and Twitter Spaces
Hosting live Q&A events featuring contributors and experts from the Zcash ecosystem to increase transparency, answer community questions, and build trust.
Cross-Community Collaboration
Partnerships with other blockchain, fintech, and privacy-focused communities to promote joint learning, shared initiatives, and wider exposure to privacy technologies.
Merchant Adoption
Business Outreach
Direct engagement with local merchants to demonstrate how accepting ZEC reduces transaction friction, provides fast payments, and offers a secure alternative to traditional financial systems.
Incentive Programs
Introduction of small rewards , visibility support, and promotional benefits to encourage more businesses to accept Zcash as a payment method.
Practical Integration Support
Provision of one-on-one training, onboarding guides, and hands-on assistance to help merchants successfully integrate ZEC into their operations.
Localized Resources
Translation Efforts
Translation of essential Zcash documents, guides, and educational materials into Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa to make information accessible to non-English-speaking communities.
Sustainable Community Growth
Active Online Platforms
Maintenance and expansion of community channels across Telegram, Twitter (X), TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Substack to keep members informed, connected, and engaged.
Participation Rewards
Use of Zealy quests, community challenges, and the Zcash Nigeria Contributor Program to encourage participation, reward content creators, and motivate volunteers who help onboard new users or support community activities.
### Solution Format
This initiative is supported by three core pillars: education, community building, and real-world adoption. By expanding financial privacy awareness and showcasing the practical benefits of Zcash, the project aims to empower Nigerians with the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate and own their digital financial lives.
Nigeria is one of the most active crypto ecosystems in Africa, and this makes it the ideal environment to position Zcash as a trusted, practical, and widely-used privacy solution for individuals, businesses, and communities across the country.
### Dependencies
there are no dependencies
### Technical Approach
To strengthen the Zcash community in Nigeria and promote financial privacy, this project will implement a coordinated set of community-driven initiatives focused on education, accessibility, and real-world adoption.
The strategy begins with active participation in local events and collaborations with relevant organizations across the country. These engagements will introduce Zcash to new audiences, including students, developers, merchants, and everyday users. In-person activities will be supported by structured learning programs designed to simplify Zcash’s technology and explain the importance of financial privacy in practical, relatable terms.
A key part of our outreach includes expanding our digital presence. We will activate and grow the Zcash Nigeria Instagram account and continue scaling our TikTok channel to reach younger and wider audiences through creative, informative, and localized content.
To promote inclusivity and accessibility, essential Zcash documentation and educational materials will be translated into widely spoken Nigerian languages such as Yoruba and Igbo. These efforts will make financial privacy concepts easier to understand for non-English speakers. Alongside this, we will maintain and moderate our online community spaces on Telegram and Twitter (X), ensuring ongoing communication, support, and engagement.
Supporting new users is central to our approach. We will host regular onboarding sessions, provide personalized assistance, and help individuals set up wallets, perform transactions, and understand Zcash’s key features. To encourage real-world adoption, we will expand merchant outreach efforts by educating business owners on the benefits of accepting ZEC and offering step-by-step guidance for seamless integration.
Content creation will serve as the educational backbone of the initiative. We will publish consistent blog posts, infographics, video explainers, and community updates to keep audiences informed and motivated. In-person workshops and meetups will offer hands-on learning opportunities, while live AMA sessions on social media will create open channels for people to ask questions and engage directly with Zcash advocates.
To broaden our impact, outreach will extend to new states, universities, and online communities, ensuring more Nigerians are introduced to Zcash and the financial freedom it provides. Through this comprehensive, inclusive, and people-centered approach, we aim to cultivate a strong, informed, and active Zcash community across Nigeria.
### Upstream Merge Opportunities
N/A
### Hardware/Software Costs (USD)
Na
### Hardware/Software Justification
N/A
### Service Costs (USD)
N/A
### Service Costs Justification
N/A
### Compensation Costs (USD)
57,600
### Compensation Costs Justification
[@lisa001](https://github.com/lisa001) :$1200 (monthly fee)
[@Cjfrankie](https://github.com/Cjfrankie): $1200 (monthly fee)
[@Hardaeborla](https://github.com/Hardaeborla):$1200 (monthly fee)
@emmalexo: $1200 (monthly fee )
The estimated budget for Zcash Nigeria will be used to cover the working expenses of the team members for 1 year (Jan - Dec 2026)
Other expenses included in the budget;
Monthly meetups support: $6000 (12 events), 400 usd support for each event broken down below
Renting of venue - up to $200
renting of equipment - up to $50
production of T-shirts/swags - up to $100
Refreshments and miscellaneous - upto $150
Support for large conferences - 5000 usd
This funds will only be accessed for attending larger web 3 conferences that enhances experience, networking, collaborations and adoption of zcash and will cover conference sponsorships, reservations , accommodation, flights etc
### Total Budget (USD)
68,600
### Previous Funding
Yes
### Previous Funding Details
https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zcash-nigeria-2025-approved/50106
https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zcash-nigeria-2025-v-2-0-may-july/51138
https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zcash-nigeria-2025-august-october/51833
https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zcash-nigeria-2025-november-december/52836
### Other Funding Sources
No
### Other Funding Sources Details
N/A
### Implementation Risks
None
### Potential Side Effects
None
### Success Metrics
There will be fully transparent reporting to the community on success metrics. Relevant metric statistics will be shared regularly.
Zcash Nigeria Twiter Account growth
Zcash Nigeria monthly meetups
Zcash nigeria Regular articles
Zcash Nigeria Designs memes and infographics and threads
Zcash Nigeria translations.
Regular X spaces
Zcash Nigeria tik tok account growth
Zcash Nigeria youtube channel growth
Zcash Nigeria substack Growth
Zcah Nigeria Telegram growth
zcash Nigeria website
Businesses Onboarded
### Startup Funding (USD)
None
### Startup Funding Justification
None
### Milestone Details
```milestones.yaml
Milestone: 1
5,200 usd
Expected Completion Date: 31-01-2026
Deliverables: Management report and metrics
Milestone: 2
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 28-02-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 3
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 31-03-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 4
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 30-04-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 5
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 31-05-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 6
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 30-06-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 7
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 31-07-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 8
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 31-08-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 9
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 30-09-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 10
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 31-10-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 11
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 30-11-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
Milestone: 12
5,200 USD
Expected completion Date: 31-12-2025
Deliverables : Management report and metrics
```
### Supporting Documents
```files.yaml
```
