General News
Digital Platforms Provide Opportunity to Target Export Markets-Ehimuan –
Juliet Ehimuan Chiazor is the country manager, Google Nigeria, the global Internet-software giant; with specialisation in internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies.
Ehimuan has registered her name as a Nigerian woman of substance having led somewhat revolution to see more Nigerians and businesses get online. Her experience spans international markets primarily in technology, new media, and Oil & Gas industries.
In 2011 she was listed in Forbes magazine as one of the top 20 youngest power women in Africa. The Nigeria Computer Society also awarded her “IT Personality of the Year” in 2012.
In this interview with peter ugwu, Ehimuan radiates her passion for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and talks about the recent Google’s Share Your Nigeria Content (SYNC) conference.
About SYNC
SYNC stands for Share Your Nigerian Content. SYNC Nigeria 2013 was a 3-day outreach event aimed at helping key individuals, businesses and communities in Nigeria better understand and leverage the power of the internet for social and economic growth.
It included workshops, trainings, demos and 1-on-1 sessions aimed at helping to share more knowledge required for effectively using internet tools to innovate and grow.
The initiative also anchors on the findings of the newly released Dalberg Impact of the Internet study which further reinforces Google’s position on the internet’s power to drive social and economic change.
In addition to the goal of knowledge sharing and forging closer ties with these key communities, this initiative is also aimed at inspiring a new influx of high quality Nigerian content to the internet space.
There is a lot of great content in Nigeria, attractive to a local and global audience; and digital platforms provide an opportunity to target export markets.
You Mentioned the Dalberg Study? What is that?
Google commissioned Dalberg to perform an ‘Impact of Internet’ study which examines the Internet’s impact on, and potential contribution to, social and economic development in Nigeria.
The study was officially launched on June 3rd, 2013 at the Transcorp hilton in Abuja with the Minister of Communication Technology, Ms Omobola Johnson giving a keynote address.
The report highlights the potential of the Internet for social and economic development. It also seeks to help policy makers understand how their constituencies already use the Internet, where the opportunities lie, what future potential for social impact the Internet offers.
It specifies the need for government to continue to play the lead role as visionaries and first adopters of new technologies.
The report revealed that of all the countries covered in the study (Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya and Ghana), Nigeria shows the greatest potential in using the Internet to promote good governance, eCommerce and finance, though these sectors have not yet produced solutions that have spread across the region.
It re-emphasizes that continuing investment in core infrastructure and the rapid implementation of the broadband plan will positively impact on economic growth and employment.
What Other Activities were Part of SYNC Nigeria?
The first day was about sharing local creative content. We had 12 hours of Google+ hangouts, where different Nigerian artists performed to a global online audience via Google+ hangouts.
We also had one-on-one intimate hangouts with different personalities connecting with people around the world. Themes ranged form cake making, to entertainment.
The second day was focused on business. It comprised of highly interactive sessions with advertisers, publishers, media agencies and key influencers.
Themes included new business models,successfully monetizing online, and effectively leveraging online reach channels.
There’s a great opportunity for bid brands to expand their marketing reach by adding a digital component to their advertising campaigns.
This is very important, because more users are getting online to look for information, and business need to be able to meet these users.
Day three focused on Nigerian content creators, social media advocates and other media experts in a bid to help them better understand how to take advantage of the internet to boost content distribution.
The internet presents huge opportunities for Nigeria’s creative and content production industry. We intend to work with this community as well as others to fully harness internet tools and platforms like Youtube that have proven to be very successful across the world.
Result of Google’s Empowerment of SMBs in Nigeria Get Online since 2011
In order to ensure that more locally relevant content gets online, in September 2011, we launched, “Get Nigerian Businesses Online”.
We provided free tools to support Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in creating websites that can load on mobile phones.
The businesses were also provided with up to 10 free email address and listing on Google Maps. We also ran a number of workshops to train people on getting online and also succeeding online.
Through our SMB initiatives, we have been able to get over 40, 000 SMBs online, and we have seen some great success stories across multiple industries.
I am constantly inspired by the successes I hear about. Very recently, I met another SMB who’s business has grown tremendously by getting online.
She runs an online bridal shop, a business she started online after attending one of our SMB training programs.
Prior to that she had been relying on word of mouth referrals with very limited results. Now her sales have increased a hundred fold.
After Getting the Contents Online, How About Accessibility?
Our strategy in Nigeria is on three things. One is access, which is exactly what you have mentioned. We are earnestly looking at ways (in collaboration with stakholders in the private sector and government) to make the internet more available and affordable to Nigerians.
We have seen more submarine cables land on the West Coast like MainOne and GloOne, and international bandwidth prices have dropped as a result, but there are still last mile challenges.
We have a number of initiatives under the Access bucket. We have a Point-of Presence at the local exchange and our services are cached locally.
We also have an access program with Universities where we provide last mile grants and pay for international bandwidth for 3 years to support the Universities in getting online.
The program also includes free deployment of Google Apps software for education and training of staff and students
Just recently, Mr. President approved the strategy for broadband for Nigeria, which was put together by a Committee and anchored by the Minister of Communication Technology.
We were part of that committee and have served in others created by the Ministry. It is also clear that accelerating broadband growth in Nigeria is top priority for Ministry of Communications Technology, which is great.
Trust as an Issue in Online Transaction
Yes, the issue of e-payment and trust or fear among some people is quite natural. A lot of people are still cautious about making payments online.
However, we are seeing an increasing trend in the adoption of eCommerce and some strong eCommerce players emerging in the marketplace.
We are also seeing models that “pay on delivery” as an attempt to overcome the trust barrier. As more people successfully transact online, confidence in ePayments will increase.
It is important that providers ensure basic security provisions in the design of their services. A positive customer experience is key to drive growth.
It is quite clear that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is trying to drive e-payment across Nigeria (with the cashless policy and other initiatives); so we expect to continue to see a positive trend.
YouTube, Like Google Would Observe Is A Platform For Developers To Upload Their Contents and Make Some Money, How Have Nigerians Benefited From This?
I think what is important to mention at this point is there are great opportunities and we are seeing Nigerians take advantage of those opportunities.
YouTube is an online video content sharing platform; we have a lot of great content coming from Nigeria like Nollywood movies, music concerts, educational, political and news contents. In essence, individuals and organisations are leveraging the platform to share that content and reach a wider audience.
For example, there are some content producers who are extending their businesses online through YouTube, uploading movies online and monetizing the traffic.
There is global demand for Nollywood content, and Youtube provides a great way to tap into the export market.
Partnership between Google and the Financial Sector in Nigeria
We work with organisations across multiple sectors. Our focus is on digital technology which is applicable to every sector – insurance, media, banking, FMCG, and others.
During my presentation at SYNC I shared the example of GTBank as a business taking advantage of the internet to expand its customer service.
When GTBank launched its mobile money service, they created a GT Community on Google+ which was a destination where uses could go, chat with experts, ask questions, and share comments about mobile money and other GTBank products.
They also ran a Google+ hangout as a way to connect to customers. Customers could dial into the hangout, ask questions and interact with the bank service staff.
The bank also used online ads to drive traffic to its various digital assets including NdaniTV channel on Youtube.
Another example is Ultima Studios. Last year, in parallel to the offline “Project Fame” talent competition, Ultima created a wild card competition on Youtube.
This increased user interaction and engagement as users could post comments online and interact with fans.
So, that is an example of a company extending its customer service offering by leveraging technology. We’ve seen other Nigerian companies successfully create digital assets in a similar way.
The internet revolution is definitely real in Nigeria and we are excited by the momentum that is building. This is just the beginning. As broadband access increases, we expect to see great innovations in the Nigerian digital space.
General News
AFC Proffers Action Plans for Nigeria, Africa to Unlock $4trn from Investors to Grow Economy

Nigeria and other African nations can tap up to $4 trillion in capital from institutional investors, an amount that could be used to fund the continent’s infrastructural gaps and engineer much-needed economic growth, according to the Africa Finance Corporation.
While there are as investable domestic capital across banking assets, institutional funds, and reserves, the multilateral lender revealed on Thursday that funds are still being channeled into “low-risk and short-term instruments instead of being channelled into the real economy.”
“Redirecting more savings into the real economy is critical,” said Rita Babihuga-Nsanze, AFC chief economist and director of strategy, speaking during the AFC’s 2025 State of Africa’s Infrastructure briefing. “Africa must build its intermediation infrastructure to match its development needs.”
Nigeria is however demonstrating how Africa can unlock domestic capital for infrastructure, with its pension fund investments in the sector rising from just $6 million in 2015 to more than $155 million in less than a decade.
This milestone, driven largely by reforms and credit enhancement mechanisms like InfraCredit, underscores the growing role of pensions in financing long-term development on the continent.
Data from the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) shows that as of February 2025, Nigeria’s infrastructure-related pension assets had grown to N250.87 billion, representing 1 percent of total assets under management (AUM).
This is a sharp increase from the N1.19 billion recorded in 2015, which stood at just 0.02 percent of AUM.
A turning point came in 2017, with the launch of InfraCredit and Nigeria’s maiden corporate infrastructure bond. The credit guarantee initiative helped de-risk infrastructure projects, attracting conservative institutional investors like pension fund administrators (PFAs).
Chinua Azubike, managing director of InfraCredit said the credit-guarantee institution has helped facilitated bonds to build critical infrastructure, citing the bond raised for the construction of the Lagos Free Zone.
Azubike noted that while perception of risks persists, the company has “zero default rate” despite being involved in well over 12 sectors.
But while Nigeria’s growth is notable, pension allocations across Africa remain largely skewed toward low-risk, short-term instruments such as government securities and money market funds.
In countries like Ghana and Uganda, over 75 percent of pension assets are held in government bonds. Nigeria itself still holds 63 percent of its pension assets in these instruments.
This conservative stance, analysts say, reflects both regulatory caution and the underdevelopment of local capital markets.
In contrast, economies like India and OECD countries show a more balanced allocation, with significant exposure to corporate debt, real estate, and alternative investments. For example, OECD pension funds allocate nearly 20 percent to alternatives, according to AFC data.
To replicate Nigeria’s model, experts are calling for a coordinated effort to deepen capital markets, build risk assessment capacity, and create vehicles that can intermediate long-term finance effectively.
Beyond returns, pension investments in infrastructure have the added benefit of creating jobs, boosting productivity, and supporting economic resilience, critical needs in a post-pandemic, climate-vulnerable Africa.
General News
DSO: STBMAN Accuses NBC of Contempt, Seeks Presidential Intervention

Association of Set-Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN) has accused the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of sidelining indigenous manufacturers and flouting a subsisting court order in its push to launch a new satellite-driven Digital Switch Over (DSO) scheme, tagged ‘The Big Picture’.

Charles Ebuebu, director-general, NBC
The group is calling on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene.
STBMAN, in a statement issued by Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, its chairman, described the NBC’s approach as “incoherent and unfair”, alleging a consistent pattern of disregard for existing agreements and stakeholders.
“It is becoming routine for the Commission to embark on a course without the slightest consideration to agreements and for key stakeholders in the DSO ecosystem,” the group stated.
The manufacturers expressed concern over NBC’s plan to import five million hybrid set-top boxes from China, despite a presidential executive order promoting local content in procurement.
They argue this move contradicts the “Nigeria First Policy” and undermines years of local investment.
“NBC should therefore be a promoter of economic activities and not a destroyer of ideas and investments,” STBMAN said, highlighting that its members still hold unsold boxes manufactured to NBC’s original specifications.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
PRESS RELEASE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF SET TOP BOX MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA, ON THE JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE DIRECTORS GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMMISSION (NBC) AND NIGCOMSAT ON THE UNVEILING OF SATELLITE DRIVEN DIGITAL SWITCH OVER (DSO) TAGGED ‘‘THE BIG PICTURE’’.
The Association of Set Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN)is once again compelled to issue a statement on the very incoherent and unfair practices being pursued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)in its implementation of the FGN’s policy on the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting. Regrettably, it is becoming routine for the Commission to embark on a course without the slightest consideration to agreements and for key stakeholders in the DSO ecosystem.
The public is invited to note that STBMAN is a body of technology driven businesses and is not averse to the introduction and use of new technologies.
Similarly, it should be noted that the Association is not alluding to any inference that it should be the ultimate determiner of how the project is implanted.
For any keen follower of the DSO since its conception by the DigiTeam, it is not far- fetched to recall its decision on the adoption of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) option as against the DTH on grounds of the cost that will be difficult to bear by the larger part of the TV viewing population.
Secondly, as at today the Federal Government of Nigeria has spent close to over N60Billion on DSO program, excluding Millions of Dollars spent by Broadcast Signal Distributors, local DTT factories and other stakeholders who have deployed DTT Infrastructure. This is not minding the over 10 million Poor Television Households that will be impacted by mindless action of hybrid box.
As we are not averse to any change of any government policy, it is on record that STBMAN at various times have encouraged NBC to partner with NIGCOMSAT to provide the necessary signal transmission/ coverage to ameliorate the heavy cost that was being paid to foreign satellite distribution/ carriers but the NBC outrightly refused to consider this.
It is heart-warming to note finally that NIGCOMSAT is now the latest and best to provide signal coverage.
Curiously, the Press Release stated that local manufacturers would be engaged to produce hybrid compliant reception devices yearly, yet there has been no form of engagement with the 13 licensed STB manufacturers who have committed huge financial cost in the manufacture of DTT boxes specifically ordered and made to specifications provided by the NBC/ Digiteam.
It is imperative for the public to note that the STB manufacturers have toiled and sacrificed for the success of the DSO but at each turn, there appears to be deliberate and calculated move to scuttle their efforts and investments.
For almost 10 years, members of STBMAN have been left with scores of boxes in their warehouses without being able to sell because of NBC’s inability to deliver on its obligations and contractual agreements.
The least that any well-meaning governmental body that cares for the growth of its economy should have done, would have been an engagement with the existing licensed manufacturers to work out an acceptable arrangement, considering the financial investments as well as the changes in technology that have become necessary to undertake.
The public is invited to note further that it was on grounds of this and NBC’s attempt to undermine the agreement and the exclusivity granted the pioneer manufacturers that the Association took out a Writ of Summons in Suit No: FCT/HC/GAR/CV/442/2024 to protect its interest by seeking Court intervention to stop any attempt at licensing new manufacturers of STBs. It is *instructive to emphasis here that on the 11th day of September 2024, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Abuja made interim orders restraining NBC from taking any further step in relation to the reliefs being sought by the Claimants.
Notwithstanding the fact that NBC is not only seized of the pendency of the case/ action but has joined issues with the Claimants, it has chosen the path of contempt to short circuit the ends of justice.
An order of court, whether valid or not must be obeyed if it is subsisting by all no matter how lowly or lightly placed in society until it is set aside. This is what the rule of law is all about.
As if NBC is running a different Government, in the press release, they intend to import 5,000,000 Hybrid/DTH Set Top Boxes from China, in total disregard of the Presidential Executive Order “The Nigeria First Policy’ which makes it mandatory, that Nigeria comes first in all procurement processes.
No foreign goods or devices that are already produced locally will be procured without a clear justified reason. Accordingly, the policy reflects the vision of President Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in industrializing Nigeria, shielding the economy from global shocks and building sustainable local capacity. NBC should therefore be a promoter of economic activities and not a destroyer of ideas and investments.
In the light of the foregoing, we call on Mr. President, Alh. Bola A. Tinubu GCFR to urgently wage in and stop this rather dangerous trend sought to be perpetrated by the NBC leadership and its advisers.
Thank you.
For: ASSOCIATION OF LICENCED SET TOP BOX MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA. (STBMAN)
SIR GODFREY N. OHUABUNWA
CHAIRMAN
General News
Jumia Marks 13 Years of E-Commerce Innovation and Impact in Nigeria

Jumia, Africa’s e-commerce platform, is celebrating 13 years of transforming the way Nigerians shop. Since its launch in 2012, Jumia has evolved into more than just an online shopping destination. It has become a catalyst for economic growth, digital inclusion, and everyday convenience for millions of Nigerians.
From small business owners and rural consumers, Jumia has played a key role in shaping a more inclusive digital marketplace. Over the past decade, the platform has helped hundreds of local and international brands reach customers across the country, while also supporting thousands of sellers with tools, training, and access to logistics and digital payments.
To commemorate this milestone, Jumia is launching the 2025 Anniversary Campaign under the theme “Enjoyment Overload”, running from June 2 to June 22. While the campaign will feature attractive deals from Nivea, Xiaomi, Itel, Diageo, Ecoflow, Skyrun, Oraimo, Adidas, Reebok, Unilever, Reckitt, and more, it also reflects a deeper celebration of the brand’s enduring impact.
“We are proud of the journey so far, not just in terms of business growth, but in the real-life stories of empowerment and access that Jumia has made possible. With this anniversary campaign, we’re pulling out all the stops to create a celebration that rewards loyalty, excites new users, and showcases the very best of what e-commerce can offer.
This is our way of saying thank you to the millions of Nigerians who have grown with us, challenged us, and inspired us every step of the way,” said Sunil Natraj, CEO, Jumia Nigeria.
“Beiersdorf Nigeria owner of Nivea Brand, is proud to partner with Jumia as the Platinum Sponsor for the 2025 Jumia Anniversary Celebration. This three-week event allows us to showcase our commitment to skincare innovation and reward consumers nationwide.
“NIVEA will highlight key innovations, including our new NIVEA SUNSCREEN – UV Face, re-launched Deep Maxx Tech Body Lotion, and Radiant & Beauty Even Glow, specially designed to meet the unique skincare needs of African skin.
“Through this partnership, we’re bringing trusted skincare solutions to more Nigerians, with exclusive discounts and a 4.5 million Naira grand prize for the top shoppers,” said Dele Adeyole, Country Manager, Beiersdorf Nivea Consumer Product Limited.
Shoppers can look forward to daily flash deals, brand days, games, treasure hunt, and exciting giveaways from Jumia and partner brands.
As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to evolve, Jumia remains committed to simplifying daily life through technology, innovation, and a customer-first approach.
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