Feature: Ademola Abass Is Helping New Immigrants Find Their Footing in The UK Through Tech

Six years ago, Ademola Abass didn’t set out to become a tech founder. He just wanted to solve real problems. After leading a team that won West Africa’s first disability tech hackathon, hosted by CampusLabs and the U.S. Embassy in 2019, he realised he had the skills in product design, leadership, and building digital communities.—and more importantly, the conviction—to build tools that actually serve people like him.

Fast forward to today, and Ademola is the founder of NextBud, an app designed to help Black newcomers settle, connect, and thrive when starting life in a new city.

“I Saw the Gaps—and Decided to Fill Them Myself”

Ademola’s decision to build NextBud wasn’t random—it was rooted in deeply personal experiences.

“My cousin moved to Wales for her master’s and felt completely isolated. A friend who had just relocated to Scotland was attacked while walking alone. Then I personally lost £3,000 to a scam on Facebook Marketplace when I moved here,” he shared.“Those moments stuck with me. I thought—what if we could create something that actually helped people like us settle in faster and safer?”

To understand how widespread these challenges were, he surveyed over 300 other Black newcomers to the UK. The message was clear: people needed a platform that made life easier from day one.

What Is NextBud?

NextBud isn’t just another networking app. It’s what Ademola calls a “life-navigation tool.”

“We bring everything into one place—jobs, housing, trusted local contacts, community events, and city-specific resources,” he explains. “It’s all about helping people find their feet faster.”

One feature he’s especially proud of is NextAI, a smart assistant that will soon start recommending personalised local support based on users’ backgrounds and interests. “We’re rolling that out soon, and I’m really excited about it,” he adds.

“We’re Not Segregating—We’re Supporting”

Like many bold ideas, NextBud hasn’t been without criticism. “When we posted about it on Twitter, some people called it ‘racist’ or accused us of promoting segregation,” Ademola said.

“But that’s just not true. We’re not about exclusion—we’re about support. Everyone’s welcome, but our focus is on helping a group that’s often overlooked.”

Built With Community in Mind

Interestingly, the app’s AskBuddy feature—originally intended for simple Q&As—has turned into something much bigger. “People use it to post pictures, share updates, even promote local events. It’s slowly becoming a cultural hub. And honestly, that’s beautiful to see.”

The Road Ahead

As a Black tech founder in the UK, Ademola admits the journey hasn’t been easy. “Raising money has been the toughest part. There aren’t many people who look like me in this space,” he says.

But support is growing. He’s now part of Tech Nation’s Libra cohort, a program for underrepresented founders. And he’s got big plans for what’s next.

“In the next few years, we want to expand into career support, mental health services, and even build global links between African diaspora communities. The dream is to turn NextBud into Africa’s first neighbourhood app—something locally useful, but globally relevant.”

Driven By Mission—and Love

Ademola doesn’t take all the credit. “I’m the one out there pitching the vision, but my wife is the real MVP. She runs the company day-to-day and keeps me grounded. When things got tough—and they have—she kept pushing us forward.”

At Light of Africa, we’re proud to spotlight people like Ademola Abass—founders who don’t just build apps, but build bridges for communities to grow, connect, and thrive.