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E-commerce Showing Huge Contribution to Nigeria’s Economic Direction

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The e-commerce section of the Nigerian digital economy holds immense potential for the overall growth of the economy. With 58 online marketplaces in the Nigerian e-commerce space, the contribution of companies such as Jumia, Konga, Jiji, in recent years are exceptional and the economic outlook for the next few years of stability and consolidation.

Recently, the federal government revealed the improving impact of e-commerce on the country’s economy, saying the current e-commerce spend in Nigeria has grown to  $13billion per annum and is expected to hit $75billion in revenue per annum by 2025.

According to Dr. Evelyn Ngige, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, e-commerce grew in Nigeria from 14% in 2019 to 17% in 2020.  She stated that her ministry was passionate about the growing Investment opportunities in the e-commerce value chain, which are capable of contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Statista’s digital market outlook for Nigeria’s e-commerce also said the number of online shoppers in the country, which was at 76.7 million  in 2021, is expected to hit 122.5 million by 2025.  A report by Agusto & Co predicted new entrants into the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) segment of the Nigerian economy thanks to the emerging e-commerce sales trend.

“Through e-commerce, players enjoy a wider customer reach with the ability to simultaneously connect to millions of consumers locally and globally. We note that the emergence of COVID-19 positively impacted the sector, with players recording a gush of customer orders particularly during the lockdown period. We expect this trend to continue into the emerging post COVID-19 era premised on the rising rate of adoption of online shopping by consumers on the back of the relative convenience it offers,” the report stated.

Commenting on this development, Jumia CEO,  Spalazzi said: “It shows that Nigerians are embracing e-commerce more, and the services are becoming part of their daily lives. Importantly, this also shows that consumers are getting value from e-commerce services. This has been our aim at Jumia from the onset, and we are happy that the country is gradually seeing the impact of e-commerce to the  economy.”

He added that e-commerce holds a lot of economic potential for Nigeria if given the needed support. “This is just like a tip of the economic benefits the country stands to get from e-commerce. A huge chunk of the market is yet to be exploited. The industry holds a lot of economic potential for Nigeria in terms of employment, technology development and overall GDP of the country,” Spalazzi said.

Figures by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), also showed that Nigeria’s e-payment transactions increased by 85.5% year-on-year to N171.99tn in August 2021. Little wonder the Nigerian government is paying more attention to this sector and formulating policies to facilitate a vibrant digital economy.

Abdullahi Kashifu, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in his congratulatory message to Jumia on its 9th anniversary said that the federal government is visibly at work to improve digital economy activities in the country, especially seeing as it provided immense support to the government during the covid lockdowns.

He stated that Jumia has had an impressive nine years of e-commerce journey which has seen it expand to several African countries, creating employment opportunities and becoming a good reference for innovative startups on the continent.

He said “These are the kind of startups we encourage, an innovation-driven enterprise. You look at the global market and huge capital investment and job creation. And also you are innovative and creating a lot of jobs in the ecosystem.”

According to the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy,“Internet penetration in Nigeria in the last one year is unprecedented. Based on available records, the internet came to Nigeria most probably around the year 2000. Up to 2919, the penetration was 33%. Averagely, that’s about 1.7% penetration annually.

But from August 2019 to November 2020, the penetration catapulted to 47%. That is about a 12% increase within one year. It is expected that, by the end of 2021, we could have more that 50% internet penetration in Nigeria and this is encouraging indeed. E-commerce, leverages on internet penetration, without it’s very difficult. So the more broadband penetration, by implication, the more e-commerce activities in the country.”

Going by these indices and other pillars falling into place, e-commerce is set to  be a major contributor to the direction of Nigeria’s digital economy as the nation surges towards  the projected 2025 growth mark.


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TEDxPAU 2024: Exploring New Possibilities and Shaping Tomorrow

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TEDxPAU 2024 brought together some of the brightest minds and boldest voices on November 16th at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School. With over 500 attendees eager to explore new possibilities, the event’s theme, ‘Shaping the Future,’ set the tone for a day filled with inspiration, reflection, and transformative ideas.

The day opened with a TED talk by TED founder Chris Anderson, followed by welcome remarks from the Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Enase Okonedo. She encouraged the audience to embrace the theme, saying, “The future is now, and it is up to all of us to join hands to shape tomorrow.”

The sessions featured inspiring talks from visionaries like Akose Enebeli, who emphasized sustainable urban living by “building upwards instead of outwards,” and Goodnews Igwe, who stressed that creating value is key to success.

Temitope Runsewe championed Africa’s family values as a foundation for economic recovery, describing family businesses as “the future of Nigeria.” Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, advocated for affordable education to drive literacy and digital skills, while Michael Oluwagbemi sparked intrigue with his bold statement that “CNG is the new garri,” promoting energy innovation.

Ziad Maalouf shared leadership insights, underscoring personal growth as the key to scaling success.

Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President at Heifer International, spoke about the significance of scaling innovation from the inside out, urging organizations to embrace change-driven solutions. Dr. Peter Bamkole, Deputy Vice Chancellor of PAU, described entrepreneurship as “a catalyst for systemic change,” calling for the transformation of problems into solutions with far-reaching impact.

Dr. Cosmas Maduka, who shared his journey from adversity to global success, inspired the audience to embrace their gifts and believe in limitless possibilities.

The event ended with a fireside chat between TEDxPAU organizer Bella Victor and Dr. Maduka, who spoke about the importance of legacy and purpose. He encouraged attendees to see themselves as part of Nigeria’s solution and to embrace both the challenges and triumphs of the country’s journey.

Beyond the talks, TEDxPAU 2024 captivated attendees with musical performances, a spoken word piece, and a high-energy dance performance by different talents from the university.

The event also recognized its sponsors and volunteers, thanking them for their critical role in making the day a success.

In his closing remarks, Bella Victor expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating: “TEDxPAU was founded with the goal of giving back to this incredible school and creating a 360-degree impact—supporting our students, raising awareness for our school, and giving innovators a platform to reach a global audience. It’s inspiring to see how this event has grown and how each of you have played a part in that mission today. I thank our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and every attendee who believed in this vision. Together, we are shaping the future.”

Attendees also enjoyed networking opportunities during breaks, sponsor exhibitions, and a private lunch for VIP ticket holders, who engaged in deeper conversations with the speakers about shaping tomorrow.

TEDxPAU 2024 once again reaffirmed its commitment to “ideas worth spreading” and left attendees inspired to take action. For recordings of the event and updates on future editions, stay tuned.


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Head of Civil Service Celebrates 100 Days in Office with the Launch of Galaxy Backbone’s “Govmail”

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In a landmark moment for Nigeria’s public service, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, MINI, today marked her 100 days in office and officially launched three digital services platforms for the Civil Service.

These include, Govmail, ServiceWise GPT and the Federal Civil Service Online Portal. These platforms, underscore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to enhancing digital governance and driving innovation across the nation’s Federal Civil Service.

Govmail, an email platform developed and powered by Galaxy Backbone (GBB) is an innovative solution set to enhance communication, boost efficiency, and accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation journey within the public sector.

Speaking at a meeting where the Govmail Interface was first officially presented and demonstrated to her, the Head of Civil Service expressed her excitement about the platform, stating, “GBB’s Govmail is unbelievably WOW!

This is a game-changer for our nation’s civil service, streamlining communication and creating a secure path to other government digital services. With Govmail, we are truly embracing the future of digital governance.”

Govmail is a secure, Nigeria-centric email platform designed by a team from Galaxy Backbone, exclusively for public service professionals. It ensures that all official communication are seamlessly managed while safeguarding Nigeria’s data sovereignty. The initiative emerged as a key outcome of the Digitalisation War Room, established by Mrs. Walson- Jack, to drive the implementation of cutting-edge digital solutions in government.

Commenting on this milestone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, shared, “We are immensely proud to have developed this revolutionary platform, ensuring that every Nigerian civil servant has access to a robust and secure communication channel.

Govmail is not just about email—it’s about enabling productivity, efficiency, and sovereignty in governance. Galaxy Backbone remains committed to driving the digital transformation of Nigeria’s public sector.”

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo emphasized the strategic importance of the Govmail for the nation’s Civil Service stating that “Govmail significantly reduces the government’s reliance on foreign email platforms, cutting costs and addressing licensing challenges. This is a commendable achievement by the Head of Service and the leadership of Galaxy Backbone.”

Through GBB’s dedicated efforts, Govmail will rapidly roll out email accounts to over 70,000 Federal civil servants across Nigeria, ensuring every government professional is equipped with a secure communication platform in record time. This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s goal of leveraging technology to build a digitally driven and globally competitive public service.


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Senate Approves New $2.2Bn External Borrowing for Nigeria

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The Senate has approved the new external borrowing plan request of $2.2 billion presented for consideration by President Bola Tinubu.

Senate Approves New $2.2Bn External Borrowing for Nigeria

The approval followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts at the plenary session on Thursday.

The report was presented by the Sen. Aliyu Wammako, chairman of the Committee.

President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday, Nov 19, in separate letters to both chambers of the National Assembly, requested approval of a $2.2 billion external borrowing plan to part fund the N9.7 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget .

Senate upon receipt of the request, mandated its committee on local and foreign debts to expeditiously ensure further legislative inputs on the request and report back within 24 hours.

Presenting the committee‘s report, Wammako said the presidential request was very necessary for approval.

He said the loan request would be utilised for execution of ongoing projects and programmes in the 2024 appropriation act , saying that the projects were critical for national growth and development.

“It will contribute to the implementation of the debt management strategy, which seeks to reduce the cost of borrowing.

” It will lengthen maturity of the public debt stock, free – up space in the domestic market for other borrowers, and help increase Nigeria’s external reserves .” Wammako said Nigeria could raise all or part of the 2.2billion dollars through the issuance of Eurobonds in the International Capital Market ( ICM) .

Wammako thereafter is recommended as follows:

“That the Senate do approve the implementation of the new external borrowing of 2.2 billion dollars at the budget exchange rate of one dollars to N800 in the 2024 appropriation act and that the amount should be raised from one or more sources.

“Namely, issuance of eurobonds in the ICM, issuance of debut sovereign Sukuk in the ICM, and bridge, syndicated loans, subject to market conditions.”

The report was thereafter unanimously approved via an affirmative voice vote.

In his remarks after the approval, Senator Jibrin Barau, deputy president of the Senate, who presided plenary, commended the Wammako led committee for a job well done.


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