Christmas in 2025 felt different. Technology played a bigger role than it did in previous years, from early December planning to Boxing Day outings.
Digital tools changed how people shopped, travelled, spent money and stayed connected.
This year, Christmas was not just celebrated. It was carefully “engineered” with tech. AI helped recommend gifts, finance apps helped manage holiday budgets, and streaming platforms lined up festive music and movies.
As smartphone adoption increases in Nigeria and across Africa, technology is now part of how people enjoy the season.
How Technology is Powering Shopping and Gifting
A walk around your city or a quick scroll through Instagram showed how much Christmas shopping has changed. What used to be crowded markets has moved to phone screens. Shopping is now faster, easier, and more personalised.
This Christmas, mobile devices accounted for over 54% of online product discovery, changing how Nigerians find and buy gifts. AI-powered recommendations study browsing habits and suggest suitable items, while faster delivery options reduce the stress of last-minute shopping.
The biggest shift is happening on WhatsApp and Instagram. Research shows that about half of online purchases in Nigeria start with a chat, compared to a 22% global average. Social commerce is growing quickly because it fits Nigeria’s culture of conversation and trust.
Many sellers now run full storefronts on WhatsApp and Instagram. They bargain, share product videos, and build trust through direct communication, something traditional online stores often struggle with.
Digital gift cards, mobile transfers, and in-app gifting are also becoming more common, especially for Nigerians abroad sending gifts home.
How FinTech is Powering Festive Spending
The way Nigerians handle money during Christmas has changed. Mobile wallets and transfer codes are now used more than cash, mainly because they are faster and more reliable.
Nigeria recorded record online payment volumes in the first half of the year, showing how quickly digital payments are growing. Apps like Opay, PalmPay, and Moniepoint handled millions of Christmas transactions, from roadside vendors to online shops.
Buy Now, Pay Later services also helped many families spread holiday expenses. In the U.S., BNPL spending passed $1 billion during Cyber Monday, mostly on mobile devices. In Nigeria, platforms like CredPal and Carbon allowed users to pay for gifts and celebrations over time.
Budgeting apps also saw increased use as living costs rose. Many Nigerians used these tools to track spending and avoid overspending. At the same time, fintech platforms strengthened security, using AI to detect fraud during the busy season.
For small businesses and informal traders, digital payments have become essential. They make it easier to receive money from customers, no matter where they are.
How Tech is Powering Logistics and Communication this Christmas
Christmas in Nigeria comes with movement. People travel back to their hometowns, while others fly in from abroad. Technology made this movement easier.
Ride-hailing apps like Uber recorded higher usage in December, helping with airport trips and city travel. Travel booking platforms now use AI tools that help users compare prices and plan trips more easily.
For families separated by distance, video calls became virtual meeting rooms. During December, Nigerian music also recorded higher local and global streams, showing how technology keeps the diaspora connected to home through shared culture.
How Technology is Powering Entertainment this Christmas Holiday
Christmas entertainment has changed over the years. Streaming platforms are now a major source of family entertainment during the holidays.
Streaming services released Christmas content that reflects local culture, including Nollywood movies and Afrobeat playlists. Platforms like IROKOtv and Showmax continued to grow by focusing on African stories.
Music streaming also expanded, with apps like Spotify and Boomplay using AI to create personalised Christmas playlists that mix global hits with Nigerian sounds.
Conclusion
Christmas in 2025 gave us a glimpse into how subsequent holidays will look like, in Nigeria and beyond. With mobile internet use growing and fintech services improving, the line between physical and digital experiences will keep fading.
Nigeria’s success with social commerce shows that technology works best when it fits local habits and culture. The speedy growth of mobile payments also proves that innovation spreads quickly when it solves problems.
Christmas in 2025 was not just celebrated with technology. It was impacted by it and made more accessible because of it.
As the years go on, technology will bring about even bigger surprises. The question is how people will use it to protect what’s most important about Christmas, while still enjoying the new opportunities it brings.
For now, millions of Nigerians are finding that balance, showing how tradition and innovation can exist side by side during one of the most important seasons of the year.
[Featured Image Credit]
