Kano state has begun an eCommerce project; seen as a turning point in the history of commerce in the state and the Northern region of Nigeria and the state government and leading lights in the state are happy about it.
At the launch at Government house, Kano, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Kano state governor, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano State, and other Northern leaders, hailed the initiative.
Launched in collaboration with eTranzact International Plc, Africa’s leading provider of mobile banking and payments services; and Bizi Mobile; the Kano State eCommerce business improvement and empowerment project will kick off with a comprehensive registration of all the traders in Kano state at all levels, identifying their type of business, products and so on.
eTranzact International Plc, will be providing technology and business services that will provide an avenue for active participation of the private sector in economic development, create new job opportunities, empower the citizens and alleviate poverty in Kano state and northern Nigeria.
In the next phase, the project will see a gradual migration of traders to e-commerce in line with State Government’s drive to be the leading electronic payment/transaction State, to align with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless Policy initiatives.
In order to ensure that this project continues after the exit of the present administration, the governor announced that an edict of law in the state; Law No. 4 of 2014, mandates every trader to register his/her business in Kano State.
An electronic trader’s ID Card from the eTranzact team was also unveiled and certified by the Governor at the ceremony.
The ID Card will be compulsory for all traders and businesses in the state, and will also serve as a transaction card duly accepted on POS, ATM and the internet, and a companion for a Kano state customized version of eTranzact’s mobile money solution, PocketMoni.
In his remarks, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, executive governor of the State, explained that the biometric identity card was introduced for all business operators in Kano to enhance security, provide government with a database on business operators and enable traders to migrate to e-commerce, in line with best practices in the global business environment.
In this regard, he appealed to business enterprises and individuals operating in the state to cooperate with the state government on the project, in view of its importance to trade, investment and financial inclusion objectives of the state government.
Speaking at the unveiling of the project, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, said; “Education and health are the key areas that every responsible government should pay attention to, and inadequate focus on these sectors is responsible for the current security and economic challenges facing the country”.
The Emir, therefore, lauded the Kwankwaso-led administration for embarking on employment generation and infrastructural development programmes, assuring that the Kano Emirate Council will continue to work hand-in-hand with the government to achieve the set goals.
Also speaking about the project, Mr Sullivan Akala, executive director, Business Development, eTranzact International PLC said, “eTranzact is at the forefront of technological innovation in commerce and business, and we are proud to be able to offer our expertise and solutions to the government and good people of Kano state.
“Our key value proposition is the provision of a robust e-payment platform/service that cuts across the Web, POS, Cards and Mobile payments.
“We have been working on this unique solution for all level of government and businesses for a while, and we congratulate the Kano state government for being among the first set of states to come on board the initiative, setting the pace for other states that will be rolling out customized versions of the solution”.