Nigerian church service platform, O'Sanctus app allows Catholics attend virtual services amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Nigerian Church Service platform, O’Sanctus app is allowing Catholics to attend virtual services, reserve time with priests and make financial offerings amid the ongoing pandemic.

The O’Sanctus app was developed last year by Nigerian tech firm, Applus Dome Limited to enable Catholics to attend virtual services.

It is part of a broader trend across Africa which has seen people worshipping remotely, often by watching sermons online, because of the widespread closure of churches.

The closures have played a crucial role in the battle to stop the novel coronavirus taking hold across Africa, which has the highest number of Christians of any continent – 631 million people as of 2018, or 45% of the continent’s population – according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity.

O’Sanctus, originally launched as a church management tool for one parish, covers four digitized parishes and has garnered more than 3,000 subscribers.

Mercedes Otakponmwenhi, who runs Applus Dome Limited, said the app was set up with the aim of digitizing parts of church activities without realising that the highly infectious virus would force people to worship from home.

Even though, restrictions are being eased and places of worship will reopen starting August 7, there is still the need for digital worship because the COVID-19 pandemic is still not over.

Also, places of worship can open for services only once a week in Nigeria and would not take more than 50% capacity.

Applus Dome Limited which was founded in 2018 offers Information and Technology (IT) services but specializes in Software Development, Technology Advisory, Funds Management, Information Management, Consulting, Business Advisory, Cloud Services and Database Management. The company strives to create unique digital experiences and processes in every facet of the economy.