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E-Business

Konga May Disrupt The Nigerian Stock Exchange By 2027

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Konga Online Shopping Limited, leading ecommerce giant could be preparing its runway for a listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) within the next 3 years, news sources gather.

Working with global investment advisory firms, the largest online shopping omnichannel platform in Nigeria could list its shares in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) as early as 2027, according to experts familiar with the matter.

Strong indications from the leadership of the company show that deliberations are in place and while the details on the timing of the launch could vary, the move to a publicly owned entity appears certain.

The new Konga which was founded in 2018 when Zinox group acquired it 100% from Africa’s largest tech global investors, Naspers and Europe Kennivik, has grown through the years to become a major ecommerce player with more than 700 full time staff and over 100,000 indirect employees in its portfolio. The acquisition by Zinox Group, a leading tech company, in 2018 was regarded as one of the biggest buyouts of a mainstream ecommerce organisation on the African continent at the time. The company has since positioned itself as a formidable force in the ICT sector.

Speaking with this reporter on the possibility of a public listing, Dr. Chris Uwaje, an expert with a deep understanding of the dynamics in global capital market as it relates to Tech Companies stated that “Konga is a company which must be watched closely as an organization with the potential to disrupt the Nigerian stock market in 2027 if it hits the NSE as companies like Amazon, Jumia struggle to survive in Africa because of infrastructural issues, and are discouraged from meeting their ambitions in Africa.

“As the global economic storm hits Africa, and Nigeria in particular, there are few companies which will emerge in the next 5 years and Konga will break barriers if they hit the stock exchange, because these guys strategies and tacts are auditable” he said.

With Jumia’s last quarter result showing reasonable stress and Amazon withdrawing its expansion strategy for Africa, the path for Konga is clear as the only ecommerce company that has everything within its business, from online marketplace, fintech, hospitality and travels as well as global brand partnerships, to own logistics nationwide. It will cost a fortune to build such a consolidated group in Africa powered by very expensive technologies and complicated analytics.

Konga, best known for its trusted delivery service, began exploring the possibility of an IPO in early 2021, however it still operates as a privately held entity with active institutional backing. The business is valued at over $3billion considering its direct partnership with major global brands Like  Apple, L’Oreal (No.1 Cosmetics company in the world), Starlink owned by Elon Musk’s Space X, Samsung, HP, Lenovo and others who host official stores on Konga.

“Having spent time discussing with investment consultants in Nigeria, I have come to the decision that Konga going on the Stock Exchange will be a win for the country’s business landscape. The organisation’s framework is right for the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the fact that it is committed to driving economic activity within the African subregion should be encouraged,” says Akintunde Badmus, an investment banker based in New York and Lagos.

In many global markets, companies like Konga acquire the services of a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), through which it lists several businesses over three years. According to two people familiar with the deal, this could be a path the ecommerce service provider may take.

A SPAC deal for Konga will be a significant test of investor appetite for the Nigerian brand as the group undergoes various layers of restructuring to position its portfolio of companies as major stakeholders in corporate trade, fintech, hospitality and cosmetic distribution.

Despite facing global economic headwinds over the past year, Konga has experienced a notable boost in its financial metrics. The company benefits from the leadership of a team of young, yet seasoned professionals, including Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, an MBA graduate from Saïd Business School at Oxford University, known for their acumen and international business expertise.

The Nigerian Initial Public Offering sector worth an estimated N29trillion is gradually gaining momentum after months of market instability as major manufacturing organizations grapple with tough economic realities.

If Konga succeeds with its entry into the stock market, it will be the first locally owned majority stake ecommerce entity to achieve this feat. Other companies such as Jumia have listed on the New York Stock Exchange with its share value dwindling drastically at 10 percent of its original listing price.

Konga group may tell the true eCommerce story out of Africa if all goes well.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

E-Business

FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

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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.

FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

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.


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African Startups Raised $345m in Funding in May

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African startups raised more than $345 million across 65 deals in May, more than double the amount raised in the same period of last year, according to a report by Briter, a research and business intelligence firm.

The report disclosed that both the number of deals and participating companies declined, confirming a growing trend of fewer companies raising funds in larger sizes.

It said fintech attracted the highest share of funding in May, accounting for 34 percent of the total, while cleantech followed closely, driven by a debt deal from Sun King. The company raised $80 million (in local currency) to expand clean energy access in Nigeria.

“Equity remains the primary instrument in terms of total value. There’s no doubt about it; in fact, equity deals with disclosed amounts captured more than half of the total funding volume in May.

“However, debt financing is increasingly proving its weight. Although it accounted for only 8 percent of all deals, it represented 32 percent of the total funding, highlighting the typically larger size of debt transactions. With the rise of specialised vehicles targeting early-stage businesses, debt is becoming an increasingly important part of Africa’s innovation funding landscape,” it said.

Briter’s report added that grants continued to play a vital role in early-stage support, especially in the education technology (EdTech) sector. The Mastercard Foundation led the pack in grant activity, funding a new cohort of EdTech innovators in Nigeria and Kenya. Each selected startup is set to receive $100,000 in grant funding, in addition to mentorship and business development support.

Multilaterals also made a strong showing in May, it said. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a World Bank Group member, issued a $179.6 million guarantee to CleanTech firm KOKO Networks. The support will help scale its clean energy solutions across Kenya.

“This deal not only demonstrates growing international confidence in African climate ventures but also signals a promising pathway for other asset-intensive startups in clean cooking, agriculture, and renewable energy,” the report said.

From a geographic perspective, Egypt emerged as the continent’s fundraising powerhouse for the month, contributing 51 percent of all funding raised. The country recorded 12 deals across equity, debt, and bond instruments. Notably, FinTech platform MNT-Halan raised $50 million through a bond issuance, further illustrating the diversification of capital-raising mechanisms in the region.

Outside Egypt, funding was distributed across Africa’s three other key markets, which are Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya, with limited activity recorded in countries such as Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco, and Uganda, each registering between one and three deals.

In terms of exits, the African tech landscape continues to mature. Three companies—Baobab+, Qardy, and Shopa—were acquired in May, bringing the total number of exits this year to 22. This already surpasses last year’s count for the same period. Qardy was acquired by Catalyst Partners Middle East (CPME) in a disclosed deal valued at $23 million, the report added.

 


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Human Hacking: When Cyber Criminals Target You

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By Nancy Werteen

When you get anti-hacking advice, you’ve probably heard “Don’t use a simple password,” or “Don’t plug in that USB you found on the ground.”

Human Hacking: When Cyber Criminals Target You

But there’s one form of hacking that doesn’t always require a computer, and it costs businesses about 4.88 million dollars a year.

Modern hackers aren’t trying to get into your computer; they’re trying to get into you.

“They’ll try to learn about you a little bit, and they’ll try to use that information against you to try to get you to complete some action, maybe to send somebody some money,” said Kevin Moran, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Cyber Security and Privacy Cluster, University of Central Florida.

IBM calls this human hacking, because it exploits human error instead of system error.

“With people just being busy and maybe not very carefully checking some of the emails or the phone calls that they get, can be something unfortunately that people can fall victim to,” said Moran.

Also known as social engineering, this often takes the form of phishing, where the hacker tries to “fish” the information out of you by impersonating family, friends, or even your bank.

There’s also baiting, where the hacker baits you with something of value. Remember the Nigerian prince scam?

That’s a famous example of baiting. There’s also pretexting, where the hacker will claim the victim has already been hacked, and that the hacker can fix it if you just send over your passwords. So, what can you do?

“Just as a rule of thumb, instead of clicking on links and emails, just go to the website yourself. And that will prevent, a lot of these types of attacks from happening,” explained Moran.

Phishing can take many forms.

Spear phishing targets people with access to confidential information, often to get access into an entire business, and whale phishing targets CEOs or political figures.

Search engine phishing is when hackers create fake websites promising services or goods you’ll never receive.

Angler phishing is when hackers create fake social media accounts impersonating famous people or companies.

Finally, vishing and smishing is phishing done through phone calls and texts respectively.

 

 

 

 

 


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