Telecom
Konga Yakata: Nigerians Defy Economic Crunch, Target Smarter, Value Deals
Despite the prevailing global economic downturn and associated difficulties in the local economy, Nigerians have turned to Konga Yakata as a fitting avenue to shop great deals at best prices without burning a hole in their pockets this season.
Konga Yakata, as the Black Friday sale of Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant is known, is widely regarded as the biggest sale of the year in the annual shopping calendar in Nigeria.
The 2022 edition of the month-long shopping fiesta, which kicked off on Friday November 11 and will run through Monday, December 12, 2022, has seen shoppers on Konga buck the trend, especially with analysts and market watchers predicting that more people are expected to drastically cut down on spending due to inflation.
Investigations reveal that rather than shy away from shopping, Nigerians have instead chosen to rely on Konga Yakata to shop smarter by targeting value-adding deals.
The development has resulted in a surprising rise in traffic and shopping sessions on www.konga.com within the first 12 days of the campaign as bargain-hungry Nigerians scramble for special offers and best-priced deals at Konga.
On Konga Food, for instance, shoppers are enjoying a 50% discount on meals as well as varied deals, including free delivery or buy-one-get-one-free in select restaurants when they download and place their orders via the Konga Food app.
Shoppers are also taking advantage of the extra 5% discounts on offer for customers who make payment using their KongaPay wallet throughout the Konga Yakata period. KongaPay, a CBN-licensed mobile money platform, was recently rated by Statista, a globally renowned market and consumer data firm, as Nigeria’s leading provider of digital payment services for e-commerce transactions.
This is in addition to the array of other eye-catching offers available on Konga Yakata such as massive discounts, auctions, flash sales, treasure hunt, Happy Hour sales and Budget store, among others.
Also, while the economic crunch has admittedly resulted in a shift in shopping preferences and patterns, Konga Yakata has witnessed increased consumer spending on convenience goods such as Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and groceries, among others, with Mobile Phones, Home & Kitchen Appliances and Electronics not far behind.
Consequently, top selling items on Konga Yakata since the commencement of the month-long sale include items such as cooking oil, rice, pasta, tomato paste, washing/cleaning detergents, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, rechargeable fans, power banks, data dongles, UPS and surge arrestors, electric irons and a variety of smartphones, among several others.
Indications from within Konga equally reveal that online adoption and Average Order Value has been impressive, particularly in view of the current economic situation, with hundreds of thousands of confirmed orders already being processed since Konga Yakata went live.
More importantly, the recent brand ambassadorship deal between the e-commerce giant and superstar artiste, Patoranking, has resulted in a spike in shopping activity on the platform, further justifying the status of Konga Yakata as the biggest sale of the year.
The excitement has also extended to Konga’s physical stores located across Nigeria, with increased foot traffic recorded in major sites including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Owerri, Enugu, Uyo and Warri, among others backed up by a surge in retail sales.
Meanwhile, the excitement is bound to hit greater heights among shoppers on Konga’s platforms as the countdown to the global celebration of Black Friday on Friday November 25, 2022 draws closer.
‘‘It has been an impressive start to this year’s edition of Konga Yakata for us. Despite the undeniable harsh economic conditions, general buying sentiments is way above expectations.
“We have seen a deluge of verified orders and we haven’t even gotten to Black Friday, the 25th yet,’’ disclosed Group Head, Marketing, Anthony Nwabuisi.
Also commenting on how Konga Yakata has remained a pivotal sales campaign for shoppers, he added that consumers understand that they can rely on Konga for value and guaranteed best prices – factors that have become even more relevant in the light of current realities.
‘‘Yes, we are seeing higher order counts and GMV. But the economic situation has affected off-take in general. The situation has also generally affected the Average Order Value because when we compared this year to last year, we are trending at N21k over N26k for last year.
“However, we have seen more people embrace smarter shopping in terms of deals and pricing, with consumers now and actually focusing a bit more on FMCG and Groceries over and above Mobile Phones, Computing etc.
‘‘Nevertheless, adoption is very good. Our online sessions and traffic are high, in fact for us it’s about keeping the platform stable in the light of the spike in traffic and to give our customers the best experience.
“Offline, we have also recorded good impressions from the physical Konga stores nationwide. In fact, retail sales is trending at 64.49%, with an average foot traffic of 2k plus across all our stores,’’ he concluded.
The 2022 edition of Konga Yakata runs from Friday, November 11 till Monday, December 12, 2022.
Telecom
NASENI Retreat Focuses on Aligning Development Institutes’ Goals
In order to achieve greater cohesion amongst its Development Institutes and also sustain their proper alignment with the goals and vision of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, the Agency is holding a two-day strategic retreat for Overseeing Officers who are managing the institutes.
Participants at the retreat also include Project Managers, Coordinating Directors and some Directors from NASENI headquarters.
The event, held in Abuja, is expected to strengthen leadership skills to achieve strategic alignment of the various Development Institutes’ goals with the overarching vision of NASENI, ensure collaborative synergies with the headquarters to streamline efforts, maximize resource utilization and enhance decision making capabilities.
It will also shift the focus of research and development (R&D) efforts towards solutions that are market-ready, innovative and capable of generating sustainable economic values.
In his welcome address at the opening ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, stated that the retreat was not merely about planning, but about creating the blueprint for action, adding that each of the participants hold a unique and pivotal role in translating the vision of NASENI into reality.
“The conversations, strategies, and commitments forged here will determine how effectively we position NASENI to lead Nigeria into a future defined by innovation, self-reliance, and technological advancement, instill a shared commitment to excellence by adopting global best practices in innovation management”, he stressed.
He pointed out that recent assessments have shed light on the need for greater cohesion between the goals of the Development Institutes and NASENI’s renewed vision, highlighting that the retreat was a critical step in the Agency’s transformative journey-a journey anchored in the guiding principles of Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialization (3Cs).
He added that the principles encapsulate the essence of what NASENI stands for: creating cutting-edge solutions that are commercially viable and impacting directly on the lives of Nigerians who sit at the core of the renewed hope agenda of the President.
“Today, we gather not just to deliberate but to lay the groundwork for a stronger, more unified NASENI-one that is poised to drive Nigeria’s technological aspirations to unprecedented heights.
“As an institution saddled with the responsibility of indigenous technology advancement, NASENI has always been a beacon of innovation, a catalyst for progress, and a key driver of sector-specific solutions.
“Across our specialized Development Institutes, I see clearly that remarkable work has been done to push the frontiers of research, foster innovation, and develop solutions that address national and industrial challenges.
“Yet, we recognize that to stay true to our mission in this rapidly evolving world, we must continuously adapt, align, and refocus our efforts”, he affirmed.
The EVC/CEO, therefore urged the top management staff to engage fully, think boldly, and collaborate purposefully. “This is our moment to redefine our collective impact and to reaffirm our dedication to a vision that transcends individual institutes to unite us under the banner of progress for our nation.
“Together, we can and will achieve extraordinary outcomes. Let us move forward with clarity, resolve, and to demonstrate an unyielding commitment to excellence that defines NASENI,” he concluded.
Telecom
IHS Nigeria Partners with the NCMM to Digitize Nigeria’s Cultural Heritage
IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited (“IHS Towers”) group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count has announced a strategic partnership with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy (FMACCE) to support the digitization of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
This collaboration aims to make Nigeria’s historical artifacts, artworks, and cultural monuments more accessible to the public through a digital museum.
The partnership between IHS Nigeria, NCMM, and FMACCE will leverage technologies to digitalize and display artifacts online, helping to preserve and showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage. It marks a significant step towards modernizing the preservation and dissemination of Nigeria’s cultural assets, making them more accessible to a broader audience.
The digital museum is the first significant project under the Honorable Minister’s Digital Culture Initiative and is designed to provide a platform for the exploration and appreciation of Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage. This partnership underscores IHS Nigeria’s commitment to sustainability and its role in helping foster cultural preservation and digital education.
Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria, commented, “We are excited to partner with the National Council for Museums and Monuments and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy on this groundbreaking initiative. As a company deeply rooted in Nigeria, we recognize the importance of preserving, protecting, and promoting our cultural heritage.
“This partnership also aligns with our commitment to sustainability, education, economic growth, and community development. We look forward to contributing to the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural legacy”.
Hannatu Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, commented, “We are delighted to partner with IHS Nigeria on this initiative which aligns with His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and our Ministry’s 8-point plan on fostering strategic partnerships.
“I am particularly pleased that this initiative, which is the first significant project under our Digital Culture Initiative, embodies our commitment to innovation, global partnerships, and the sustainable growth of our creative industries, positioning Nigeria as a leader on the global stage.”
Olugbile Holloway, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, commented, “We are grateful to IHS Nigeria for their support in this remarkable initiative.
“We believe that to keep ahead of current trends and appeal to a younger demographic, it is imperative that a digital experience of our rich cultural heritage is created and made available to the public.
“The digital museum will serve as an invaluable resource for researchers, students, and the general public, both in Nigeria and around the world, and will play a crucial role in the preservation of our national heritage.”
Telecom
Google Faces Major Antitrust Action: DOJ Demands Chrome Sale
In a significant escalation of its antitrust battle against Google, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, November 20, urged a federal judge to break up the tech giant by ordering the sale of its widely used Chrome browser.
The DOJ also called for an end to Google’s agreements to be the default search engine on smartphones and proposed measures to prevent it from leveraging its Android operating system to dominate the market.
The DOJ suggested that if these remedies fail, Google should be compelled to divest Android entirely. The proposals mark one of the most aggressive antitrust moves against a major tech company in decades, with regulators seeking to curtail Google’s alleged abuse of its market power.
Google’s president of global affairs, Kent Walker, criticized the filing, accusing the DOJ of pursuing a “radical interventionist agenda.” Walker warned that the proposed breakup would disrupt Google’s product ecosystem, harm innovation in artificial intelligence, and threaten America’s global technological leadership.
This case represents a historic shift in the US government’s approach to regulating tech companies, following decades of relative inaction since the failed attempt to break up Microsoft in the early 2000s.
Google is set to respond in a filing next month, with a hearing scheduled for April before Judge Amit Mehta. The judge’s August ruling declared Google a monopoly, setting the stage for this next phase of the legal battle. Any decision is likely to be appealed, potentially taking years to resolve and possibly reaching the US Supreme Court.
The case’s future could also hinge on political changes, as President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration may take a different approach to antitrust enforcement. Trump has previously criticized Google for alleged bias against conservatives but has also expressed skepticism about breaking up major tech companies.
The DOJ’s proposals come amid broader efforts to address the dominance of big tech, with five antitrust cases currently pending against Amazon, Meta, Apple, and Google. These cases, brought under the Biden administration, are expected to shape the regulatory landscape for years to come.
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