News
B2B E-commerce Technology Strategic to Nigeria’s Economy Diversification – Alerzo CEO
Adewale Opaleye, the group chief executive officer of Nigeria’s leading business-to-business e-commerce platform, Alerzo, has stated that tech-enabled B2B e-commerce startups will contribute significantly to the diversification of the Nigerian economy, if well-harnessed.
He said e-commerce platforms in the B2B segments are playing critical roles by supporting the manufacturing sector to thrive through the provision of logistic systems and infrastructure such as warehouses and last-mile facilities to enhance inventory movement and make distribution of consumer goods faster.
“With the help of technology, online marketplaces as well as digital payment platforms built in support of the Federal Government’s financial inclusion and promotion of cashless economy,” Opaleye added.
Opaleye’s statement corroborated the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, that technology has significantly impacted Federal Government’s economy diversification policy.
Danbatta had said at an event in Abuja recently that e-commerce was an important stream of technology revenue that has improved the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He stated that an estimated 76.7 million Nigerians shop online with expected rise to 122.5 million by 2025.
While welcoming the impressive performance of the technology sector as encouraging, Opaleye said B2B platforms would continue to be pivotal to the growth of the manufacturing and informal retail value chain as a major driver of the e-commerce system.
He said as the technology frontiers expand, many more Nigerians would migrate online for shopping and adopt digital payment platforms because of convenience while the national economy would grow stronger.
Speaking on his firm’s strategic roadmap for the growth of B2B e-commerce in Nigeria, Opaleye stated that among the numerous solutions put in place by Alerzo is ownership of more than 400 vehicles and 40 warehouses across Nigeria to ensure goods get to the consumers in all the cities, towns and villages across the country faster by delivering to the retailers at no extra cost.
‘‘Alerzo is Nigeria’s an indigenous tech startup focused on bolstering the growth of the informal sector in Nigeria. We are a strategic company, so we have created an end-to-end cocoon in the B2B ecosystem by serving the critical need of the niche Factory-to-Retail distribution segment to deliver fast moving consumer goods to retailers in different cities across Nigeria.
‘‘Our over 40 warehouse facilities and 400 vehicles ensure goods are delivered to the retailers even in hard-to-reach locations, free of charge. The creation of proprietary infrastructure and provision of bespoke digital products such as Alerzoshop, Alerzopay, Veedez among others are ways we are promoting the growth and profitability of informal retailers and micro businesses,’’ he said.
Opaleye further stated that through Alerzopay PoS terminals, informal traders are empowered with a new stream of income, in addition to the ease and profits they get as subscribers on the e-commerce platform, while investment in owned fleet and warehouses ensure deliveries are done within four hours of order.
He also disclosed that through geo-mapping of coverage areas, the company has developed softwares to provide banking solutions to customers, one of which is Veedez app that supports micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with easy-to-use bookkeeping and inventory tracking systems.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
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