E-Business
Jumia and the Project of Increasing e-commerce Connection with Consumers in Rural Nigeria

Despite the challenges at its inception, many would agree that much progress has been made in the Nigerian e-commerce industry. The current reality is that there’s been major developments to what has been achieved over the past ten years.
Current data suggests that more and more people are now onboarding the e-commerce train for their daily needs. The hardest sceptics are beginning to have a taste of what online shopping entails.
There is clear evidence of an upward shift in e-commerce momentum in the country. Currently, urban cities are becoming a beehive of e-commerce activities, with most small businesses now showcasing their wares online.
Likewise, several logistics brands are springing up to meet the delivery demands of sellers and consumers. The sight of delivery vans and bikes are now common in major Nigerian cities such as Lagos, Rivers and Abuja.
Also, one can begin to say the same for rural towns, which have recently seen an influx of e-commerce activities, especially through Jumia’s JForce team, designated pickup stations and logistic partner services. With this, more items are now being delivered to remote areas in the country.
The trend is also reflected in the customer service experience on these platforms. Being the market leader, Jumia gets most customer traction; this is evident in testimonials from customers such as Blessing Zena, who resides in Benin, Edo State, “I’ve actually been shopping with Jumia for like six years.
I shop on Jumia because I always get what I order. I bought a gown online on Jumia, and I wore it to church. People liked the gown and thought it was very fine. So they asked me to order the same gown for them, which I did. And when it came, they all liked their gowns,” said Blessing.
More important is the improvement in service delivery by key industry role players. The early days of online shopping were fraught with complaints: Late delivery of orders, wrong items and payment glitches were prevalent at the time. Though these issues are still being experienced at intervals, it is fair to say that online platforms have put in the effort to reduce such occurrences.
And in cases where this happens, measures have been put in place for a speedy refund process. These efforts are also being appreciated by consumers. “When there’s any mixup like if I order a shirt that is not my size, I can return it, and they will not reject it.
“They will do something about it. And if I pay and maybe what I ordered is out of stock, they always refund my money. I don’t have to stress myself before I get my money,” Blessing said.
E-commerce brands are also improving their own service delivery and consumer experience capabilities, this is evident with their pick-up stations.
A consumer is able to walk in and pick their item with a station nearby. This initiative brings service closer to consumers and ultimately results in positive returns for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Though the e-commerce industry still has a lot to improve on, the work being put in by the major industry players such as Jumia gives hope of a good future for e-commerce services in Nigeria.
E-Business
Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.

Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon
“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon wrote in an email to employees.
He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.
According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.
Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.
However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.
“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.
The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.
Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.
The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.
E-Business
BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.
He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.
He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.
“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.
Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.
He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.
“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.
He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.
According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.
Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.
He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.
Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.
He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.
Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.
Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.
E-Business
FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

President Bola Tinubu said that his administration has initiated a project to install fibre optic cables across the country, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
His plans were contained in a speech he delivered at a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12.
He said the fibre optic layout is part of other projects being embarked on.
“In addition, we have embarked on an ambitious project to lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.
“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected,” Tinubu stated.
He maintained that by extending this critical infrastructure, his government is empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.
In a most recent report on Internet connectivity, The ICIR pointed out how Nigeria has faced setbacks in its deployment of fibre optic cables and needs a transformation.
The challenges revolve around vandalism, inadequate coordination between road construction and telecom infrastructure, and varying right-of-way (RoW) charges across states.
Among industry experts, these issues impact network outages, increase repair costs, and hinder broadband expansion efforts.
It has also further threatened the digital economy, leading to slower Internet speeds, dropped calls, and unreliable connectivity among others.
- Telecom2 days ago
ALTON Clarifies on Migration to End-User Billing for USSD Services
- E-Financial2 days ago
Nigerian Stock Market Suffers ₦183 Billion Loss Amid Profit-Taking
- News2 days ago
DStv Rewards Loyal Customers with Free Package Upgrades
- Telecom2 days ago
Lagos Future Conference 2025: Stakeholders Call for Digital Responsibility and Grassroots Innovation
- General News2 days ago
African Parliamentarians Seek Answers from Telcos on Quality of Service
- News1 day ago
Lasaco Assurance to Invest in Technologies, Systems to Deliver Value to Clients
- E-Financial2 days ago
SEC Working on Stablecoin Regulation Framework
- News2 days ago
FCCPC Orders Air Peace to Appear Over Alleged Refund Violations