General News
Key Dimensions that Will Drive Nigeria Online Marketplace Space in 2016- Masha

Lola Masha is the country manager, OLX Nigeria, the leading online classifieds player in the country. Masha joined OLX Nigeria in February 2014 with the goal of building a world-class, trusted and secured online classifieds business that stands out from its competition.
She holds PhD. in Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Masha is an outstanding individual with expertise in business development, entrepreneurship, operational transformation, strategy and product development, across numerous industries including technology and consulting.
She has significant international experience and has worked with brands like Google and McKinsey Consulting. In this interview with Peter Ugwu, she swiftly reviews e-commerce space in Nigeria in 2015 while discussing OLX’s ambition for growth in the market in the new year.
Assessment of the Online Marketplace in Nigeria in 2015
It has been an exciting and rollercoaster year. If I compare our successes to the challenges, I think it has been very successful. We started the year with a team of ten (10), but today, both the contract and fulltime staff we are close to 175 people.
So, we have grown tremendously in terms of staff strength. We also look at traffic to the website, we have grown to over 65% from January till date.
We have continued to get positive responses from the users on OLX platform. Because of this, we have made improvement in terms of awareness among the Nigerian online community.
Increased Partnerships
Our partnership over the year were fantastic. One thing we believe in at OLX is that we can’t do it alone. We have a culture of collaborations, partnerships and learnings.
So, we actually, actively, seek other organisations to work with; grow the brand and be able to contribute towards the industry’s growth here in Nigeria.
We have been very pleased with the results from our various partners and tend to do more in 2016 and moving forward.
Nigeria Online Marketplace Market Maturity
The Nigerian online market place has definitely improved, but still quite young. If I look at the percent of Nigerians currently using online classified, irrespective of platform, I think the percentage is still low and needs to improve.
As an industry, we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we should be able to celebrate how far we have gone in educating the Nigerian users on how to trade safely and successfully on OLX.
Competition
Absolutely, competition has pushed us to be innovative to stay ahead of the game. When OLX started three years ago in Nigeria, the platform wasn’t the first (in the country), and we know how hard we had to work to get to the number one position; if possible to overtake the current players.
So, constantly, we are on our toes, innovative and definitely not relaxing in anyway. We are confident that with the team, ideas and products we have we are positioned to meet the demands of our users and succeed in Nigeria.
Winning and Maintaining Users’ Confidence
It has been very positive, been the response rate from OLX users. If I think about the reactions we have been getting this year versus last year, frankly, it has been 360 degrees turn around.
We have to do that again by focusing on trust and safety. We are doing everything possible to keep the site safe for the Nigerian people, prioritizing those elements that are peculiar to us.
OLX’s View About The market
We are positioned for success. We are long term investors, not for quick wins. We are here to play, stay and win.
E-Commerce Platforms and Cybersecurity
During the year, OLX in collaboration with MOMO and other stakeholders’ oraganised a session where issues on e-commerce space in Nigeria and the cyber related security issues were extensively discussed.
Part of the event was to showcase some of the technology and human elements we have deployed to protect our users on the website, including physical verifications. We have close to 160 people in field in Lagos, who physically verify items.
That has worked very successfully. We have changed the OLX platform; it looks very different now. During the process of changing the platform, we integrated some security apparatuses that allow us to dictate fraud related postings.
Corporate Social Responsibility
We engaged in some CSR programmes during the year and they are now not a sort of one-off thing. CSR is a continuous activity for us.
We engaged in OLX-Gives-Back campaign to support the School for the Blind and other charitable organisations.
This December, we supported a campaign called ‘Fit Yaba’ and the idea was to race consciousness around health and reducing illnesses. We supported the organization in collaboration with the Co-Creation (CC-Hub) and others.
Predictions for 2016
We expect to have our best year ever in the country in 2016. Every year has been interesting and exciting, and we have learnt a lot, but believe 2016 is our year of new growths, developments, and more successes.
On general perspective, there are three different dimensions to consider. First, change of perception around trust and safety of the classified e-commerce model. Secondly, there will be more players in the field, which will help to educate users, so that an average Nigerian will be educated on how to trade safely. We also expect growth to happen in a very big way. Once users are aware on how to simply use OLX, we expect the adoption to increase.
We have seen this trend in verity of technology platforms. When the mobile phone was introduced in Nigeria, it was from a very small base.
The Phones, SIM cards were very expensive, but currently, we have about 155 million mobile subscribers. That is phenomenal growth and due to the power of perception.
Once Nigerians understand how technology works, see the real value and how it impacts their lives, Nigerians are fast adapters. We expect the same with online classified ad as well. We have seen this happen with the messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. The rate at which they have grown and successful in Nigeria, again, speaks to the fact that once a products creates value, Nigerians will definitely come on board.
I must say that 2015 has been a great and fantastic year. We appreciate our numerous users for their continuous support and feedbacks and we look forward to a more exciting year in 2016
General News
Haleon Introduces New Corporate Identity in Nigeria

Haleon, a global consumer health company with a purpose to deliver better everyday health, is introducing its corporate identity across Nigeria in a phased transition. Trusted brands such as Panadol, Sensodyne, Macleans, Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000 and Andrews Liver Salts remain unchanged in formulation, quality, and effectiveness.

Following the formal demerger from GSK, Haleon was launched on July 18, 2022, as an independent company 100% focused on consumer health. Haleon is the new home for brands like Sensodyne, Panadol, Centrum and others, trusted by millions worldwide for their proven effectiveness in improving everyday health.
From relieving tooth sensitivity or pain to providing essential vitamins and nutrients, our products are designed to fulfil Haleon’s purpose: to deliver better everyday health with humanity.
This revised corporate identity is a branding change only and does not affect the safety, quality, or efficacy of the products. Haleon is sharing this update as part of its commitment to transparency and consumer confidence, helping consumers continue to choose the brands they know and trust.
Haleon’s collaboration with Fidson Healthcare forms part of this approach, reinforcing the value of local production in supporting trusted everyday health brands in Nigeria.
Panadol Extra 100s and Panadol Pain & Fever 100s are currently being produced and supplied to the market under the Haleon identity. Sensodyne Rapid Action will bear the Haleon corporate identity from mid-June, followed by Andrews Liver Salts later this year.
In due course, additional brands—including Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000, Macleans, and the wider Sensodyne portfolio—will also transition to the Haleon identity.
Haleon remains committed to ensuring consumers can continue to access the same high-quality brands at pharmacies, supermarkets and other retail outlets across Nigeria.
“As Haleon introduces its identity in Nigeria, we want consumers to feel informed and reassured. The trusted products they rely on remain the same in quality, formulation and effectiveness.
“At the same time, our local production approach in partnership with Fidson Healthcare supports reliable access to high-quality everyday health products in Nigeria,” said Himanshu Raj, Haleon General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.
General News
Elon Musk Makes History as the World’s First Trillionaire

Tech entrepreneur and SpaceX founder, Elon Musk, has become the world’s first trillionaire after the successful public listing of SpaceX pushed his net worth beyond the $1 trillion mark.

Elon Musk
According to multiple financial reports, Musk’s fortune surged to approximately $1.1 trillion following SpaceX’s historic stock market debut on June 12, making him the first individual in history to achieve the milestone.
The sharp increase in wealth was driven primarily by SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO), which valued the company at more than $1.7 trillion at listing before rising above $2 trillion during its first day of trading. Musk’s holdings in SpaceX, combined with his stakes in Tesla and other ventures, significantly boosted his net worth.
Musk, 54, is also the founder or co-founder of companies including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company. He acquired social media platform X, formerly Twitter, in a $44 billion deal and has remained one of the most influential figures in technology and business.
Financial analysts noted that Musk’s wealth now far exceeds that of any other billionaire.
Matt Durot, deputy editor at Forbes Wealth, said the gap between Musk and the world’s second-richest individual had widened significantly, with no other person currently close to the trillion-dollar threshold.
Despite the historic achievement, Musk’s vast wealth has reignited debates over global inequality and the responsibilities of ultra-wealthy individuals in addressing humanitarian challenges.
Advocacy groups have frequently pointed to issues such as hunger, disease eradication and access to education as areas where large-scale private philanthropy could make a significant impact.
In 2021, Musk publicly challenged the United Nations to provide a detailed plan showing how billions of dollars could help combat world hunger. Although a proposal was later presented, no donation followed.
Analysts note that much of Musk’s wealth remains tied to company shares rather than liquid cash, meaning his net worth can fluctuate significantly with market movements.
Nevertheless, the SpaceX IPO marks a historic moment in global finance, placing Musk in a wealth category previously considered unimaginable.
Commenting on Musk’s business achievements, Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, described him as “the Edison of our time.”
Musk’s rise from co-founding internet startup Zip2 in the 1990s to becoming the world’s first trillionaire is regarded by many analysts as one of the most remarkable wealth creation stories in modern history.
General News
Kaspersky Warns of “Grey” Scam Websites Exploiting User Trust

Recent research by Kaspersky has shown that the so-called “grey” websites repeatedly target all world regions, and this may be driving both financial loss and large-scale data harvesting.

Grey websites are deceptive online platforms that fall outside traditional phishing definitions but still manipulate users into voluntarily handing over money and personal data. Kaspersky’s new report provides detailed insights into the threats posed by the grey websites on global and regional levels.
Unlike classic phishing attacks, which aim to steal credentials outright, grey websites rely on persuasion, misleading interfaces, and hidden terms to exploit users. They often impersonate legitimate services such as e-commerce platforms, financial tools, AI services, or subscription-based content, making them significantly harder to detect.
Kaspersky analysis shows that the majority of suspicious resources globally fall into several recurring categories:
- Fake browser extensions and “security tools” that actually harvest browsing data and track user activity.
- Fraudulent financial platforms including crypto exchanges, trading tools, and investment schemes promising unrealistic returns.
- Intermediary services (e.g., legal or real estate), charging for low-value or nonexistent services while harvesting sensitive personal data.
- Subscription traps offering low-cost trials that convert into costly recurring payments hidden in fine print.
- Fake online shops that either deliver counterfeit goods or nothing at all.
Example of a grey website.
A notable trend is the emergence of tools disguised as AI services or image-processing platforms, reflecting attackers’ ability to adapt to current digital trends and target younger audiences.
There are proven security solutions that help users to detect grey websites across different types of devices – those running on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. The detection model is based on many factors, including domain name and age, IP reputation, stability of the infrastructure used, DNS configurations, HTTP security headers, digital identity and popularity of the web resource and other criteria.
Regional specifics
Regional variations in grey websites demonstrate how threat actors localise scams based on user behaviour and trending technologies.
In Europe, the threat landscape is dominated by links to suspicious browser extensions and fake “privacy-enhancing” tools.
These resources often present themselves as security solutions, promising safer browsing or anonymous search capabilities. In reality, they function as browser hijackers – intercepting traffic, collecting cookies, tracking user behaviour, and injecting advertisements.
The popularity of these threats reflects a high level of user concern around privacy and security, which attackers actively exploit. Additionally, these regions show a steady presence of phishing intermediaries and crypto-related scams, indicating a blend of technical and financially motivated attacks.
Across African markets, financial scams are the most prominent category of suspicious resources. Fraudulent trading platforms, fake brokers, and investment schemes frequently mimic legitimate financial services, often accompanied by fabricated licenses or endorsements.
These platforms typically prevent users from withdrawing funds, instead introducing additional “fees” or taxes to prolong the scam. The concentration of these threats highlights how attackers leverage growing interest in online investing while exploiting gaps in regulatory enforcement and financial literacy.
In the Middle East and North Africa region, suspicious resources frequently mimic communication (Internet telephony) tools, financial platforms, or betting services. Additionally, Ponzi-style investment schemes and crypto scams are widespread, often presented through polished interfaces that mimic legitimate platforms.
Web browser-based threats also play a significant role, with malicious extensions targeting user data and browsing activity. The regional threat profile reflects a convergence of financial fraud and technical compromise, where users risk both data exposure and monetary loss.
“Suspicious websites don’t look harmful at first glance. But they exploit trust, urgency, and familiarity, and a single click on what looks like a harmless AI image tool, a “secure” browser extension, or a heavily discounted online shop could be all it takes to lose money or expose sensitive data.
Instead of direct credential theft, attackers turn to behavioural manipulation – whether that’s subscribing, investing, or installing software,” comments Anna Larkina, Web Content and Privacy Analysis Expert at Kaspersky.
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