E-commerce key to Nigeria development, says Jumia

Online retail shop, Jumia has said the key to proactive development of developing nations like Nigeria is to embrace e-commerce whole heartedly. At the first e-commerce conference hosted by Jumia in Lagos, the company urged Nigerians both in private and government circle to hold close the opportunities available in the Nigerian retail market.

Special guest at the event, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister for Communications Technology who delivered the keynote address titled “eCommerce and ICT in Nigeria: an Engine for Job Creation and Economic Growth” believes that E-commerce has opened doors for the upcoming generation of young Nigerian entrepreneurs to express their creativity while acting as a job creation engine to hundreds of young Nigerians. She particularly singled out Jumia.com for providing a platform for young Nigerians. “This is a company that has attracted important investors and has a great impact on Nigeria as a country and as a market place. In line with plans of government at the federal level our country needs companies that know how to make use of these developments to help reshape Nigeria’s economy.”

The ICT industry is the primary driver of growth in the Nigeria economy, thanks to companies like Jumia.com who have not only pioneered online retail trade in Nigeria, but also showed Nigerians worldwide that running such a business model within our shores is possible.

Also speaking at the conference that attracted various stakeholders from financial, e-payments and logistics companies, the Managing Directors and Co-founders of Jumia.com, Tunde Kehinde and Raphael Afaedor, urged the various stakeholders to rally round and find ways of pushing e-commerce market forward in Nigeria. “We pioneered the online retail market in Nigeria and it is great to see what significant impact it has brought to the nation’s economy as mentioned by our keynote speaker the Honorable minister of Communications Technology.” They added.

Nigeria remains one of the emerging markets in the world, and has continued to grow and attract foreign investors for the retail market. According to a study by Euromonitor International, Nigeria’s GDP based on purchasing power increased by 21,67% in the last 4 years. In same period, Internet users grew by 46% in the country. Founded in 2012, Jumia has grown to be the 4th most visited Nigerian website with over 500 employees. The website enjoys about 70,000 unique visitors daily, with a daily subscriber base of over 150,000 people.