Rashidat Okunlade Writes

In the rapidly evolving landscape of global e-commerce, Nigeria’s e-commerce market is rapidly growing and is projected to generate a revenue of US$7,627 million by the end of 2023, making it the 39th largest e-commerce market globally.

Over the past few years, Nigerian consumers are increasingly turning to online stores for their shopping needs, and the industry has seen tremendous growth. At the forefront of this change in consumer behaviour is Jumia.

After years of operation in 11 African countries and becoming the biggest player in the Nigerian e-commerce market, Jumia launched a report titled “E-Commerce in Rural Areas,” outlining a series of critical lessons that have revolutionised how the company reaches consumers in the most remote corners of the nation. It sheds light on the company’s journey, offering valuable insights into the power of community engagement, strategic partnerships, and the empowerment of local entrepreneurs.

Acknowledging the significant influence that e-commerce can have on Nigeria’s economy, Jumia launched the JForce program, which takes a grassroots approach by involving individual sales consultants within local communities. This approach has yielded 43,000 local sales consultants who play a crucial role in driving consumer education and unlocking potential of rural entrepreneurship. Amidst a 40% unemployment rate, Jumia’s JForce initiative is a transformative force, generating employment opportunities and empowering individuals financially. For many, it has become a vital source of income and stability, offering hope in the face of challenging economic conditions.

Notwithstanding the growing internet penetration in Nigeria, there is still a large percentage of Nigerians who do not have access to smartphones. In rural areas where digital literacy is limited, JForce representatives foster trust through personalised interactions and word-of-mouth marketing. This strategy has been a significant driver of the e-commerce market by enhancing accessibility. The success of JForce activations plays a crucial role in acquiring new consumers and raising brand awareness in remote regions. The goal is to bridge the digital divide, allowing rural customers to break free from geographical constraints and access various products.

Furthermore, reaching out to potential customers in remote regions may require a more resourceful approach involving strategic investments in logistics. As part of its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, Jumia established over 250 pickup stations and forged partnerships with trusted logistic partners to facilitate product delivery to secondary cities and rural areas. The strategic placement of pick-up stations across various towns ensures that even the most remote corners of Nigeria are accessible, consequently revealing untapped markets.

Although Nigeria’s logistical challenges have often hampered economic development in remote regions, Jumia’s partnership with these local logistics providers addresses this issue to stimulate growth and development within the sector. Such partnerships foster acceptance and adoption of e-commerce, particularly among customers familiar with these local businesses. By leveraging the capabilities of local logistics providers, the company has optimised its last-mile delivery, resulting in enhanced cost-effectiveness and efficiency for all stakeholders involved.

Jumia’s expansion into rural regions has had a remarkable effect on women entrepreneurs, making it an inspiring aspect of their endeavours. In a country where gender inequality has been a persistent issue, witnessing a significant rise in the participation of women in business represents a notable step forward in the economic landscape. This growing involvement of women entrepreneurs fosters inclusive growth and symbolises progress in promoting gender empowerment. The commendable statistic that over 50% of Jumia Nigeria’s sellers are women illustrates a transformative shift in the business environment, emphasising the promotion of economic inclusivity and empowerment of women. As this trend continues, it holds the potential to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s overall economic growth and development.

The success of Jumia’s E-Commerce expansion in remote regions in Nigeria reaffirms the company’s commitment to empowerment, accessibility, and preparedness for sustained growth. The report highlights a critical takeaway – that businesses can play a pivotal role in driving Nigeria’s journey towards sustainable and equitable economic growth by embracing inclusivity and forging strategic partnerships.

As the nation navigates economic challenges, Jumia’s approach, in the long run, may serve as a blueprint for creating economic opportunities and positively impacting local communities.

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

Leading telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria, has announced the appointment of two directors to join its executive leadership team.

The company named Kemi Ariyo as the new Director of Information and Technology and Harmanpreet Singh Dhillon as Director of Network Transformation and Planning.

According to Airtel, both appointments are set to bring about a new era of innovation and growth within the business.

Speaking on the recent appointments, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz, said the notably experienced Kemi Ariyo will play a pivotal role in driving Airtel Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts and the company is pleased to elevate an excellent female leader within its ranks to the position.

On his part, Cruz stated that Mr. Harmanpreet will spearhead the telecom giant’s network transformation initiatives, geared towards strengthening its infrastructure and ensuring steady services for subscribers.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kemi and Harmanpreet on board. Their in-depth expertise and experience will be invaluable in driving our technological transformation and delivering exceptional experiences to our over 60 million users. We are confident that, with their experience and expertise, Airtel will continue to innovate and stay ahead while developing cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” Cruz said.

Kemi Ariyo

Harmanpreet Singh Dhillon, the company revealed, brings an impressive background experience of over 23 years in the telecommunications industry and a passion for driving technological advancements.

Previously, he had served in various capacities across different organizations, including Vodafone, Nokia, Huawei, and was Chief Technology Officer at One Airtel in Karnataka, India, where he was responsible for leading the technology strategy, forecasting, expansion, operations, cost optimization, and capex planning for the networks team.

Kemi Ariyo also brings years of cross-industry and cross-continental career experience across the IT value chain with a track record of providing technical solutions geared towards service efficiency, customer experience, and business profitability.

Her contribution to Airtel started from her days as a Business Operations Analyst, under the management service at IBM, where she moved into several leadership roles until she fully joined Airtel in 2017.

Recall that Airtel recently completed the first batch of staff promotions for its financial year 2023/24. This promotion cycle saw the elevation of no fewer than 20 employees into senior leadership roles, out of whom three were women, and one out of these women was elevated to a vice president position.

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

Airtel Nigeria has announced its partnership with renowned manufacturers of 5G-enabled devices. The partnership is in line with Airtel’s commitment to enhance innovation, improve customer experience, and drive the adoption of 5G technology to transform various aspects of customers’ daily activities.

According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Femi Oshinlaja, the strategic partnership is not only to increase access to the latest technological advancements but also to encourage consumers to take advantage of the vast potential of 5G connectivity.

“Our partnership with leading 5G device manufacturers like Samsung, Tecno, and Infinix is a testament to Airtel’s commitment to providing our customers with access to the latest technological advancements. We believe that through this partnership, consumers will not only gain awareness about the potential of 5G but also access devices that enable them to fully embrace the benefits of this transformative technology,” he said.

A notable highlight of this partnership is the exclusive data package provided for users of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. For just 2000 naira, customers can enjoy a generous 10GB of data, allowing them to explore the vast potential of 5G connectivity.

Airtel’s partnership with smartphone manufacturers has also enabled the introduction of the lowest-priced 5G device in Nigeria such as the Samsung A14 5G, Samsung’s flagship fold and flip 5, Infinix Hot 30 5G, Tecno Camon 201 and Tecno Spark 101.