Pan-African e-commerce giant Jumia says it has moved decisively beyond survival mode after posting robust fourth-quarter 2025 earnings, with CEO Francis Dufay declaring the company is now entering a phase of high growth after years of restructuring.

The firm, founded in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2012, reported a sharp acceleration in core marketplace activity, reinforcing what management describes as a successful turnaround built on tighter execution, cost discipline and smarter geographic focus.

Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) jumped 36% year-on-year to $279.5 million in Q4, while adjusted EBITDA losses nearly halved to $7.3 million. Revenue rose 34% to $61.4 million, and cash burn narrowed significantly, a signal that Jumia’s operating engine is strengthening.

“The growth rate of the company has been accelerating. We are really scaling. Demand has always been there in our markets. What’s changing is our execution,” Dufay said.

Nigeria led the charge with 50% GMV growth, while Ghana recorded triple-digit expansion in physical goods. Egypt stabilised after currency and corporate sales headwinds, reinforcing what Dufay called a “confirmation” of recovery.

Often dubbed the “Amazon of Africa,” Jumia operates a marketplace platform, a logistics network, and a digital payments arm across key African economies. After years of heavy losses, the company streamlined operations, exiting South Africa, Tunisia and now Algeria, while cutting non-core services, reducing headcount and deploying AI tools to improve efficiency.

Competition from Chinese fast-commerce players Temu and Shein has further intensified pricing pressure. Yet, Dufay argues that the Africa-focused e-commerce retailer’s logistics footprint, payment-on-delivery model and expanded sourcing operations in China have helped level the playing field.

“People thought they would eat our lunch. But we can fight against those platforms in our markets,” he said.

The Jumia CEO stressed that operational upgrades, including rural pickup networks and Buy Now, Pay Later partnerships, are driving customer retention and higher order volumes. First-party international partnerships have also boosted the revenue mix.

Looking ahead, Jumia expects GMV growth of up to 32% in 2026 and targets adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the fourth quarter.

“This business has changed. It’s clear in the numbers that profitability is within reach, and now the focus is scaling what works,” stated Dufay.

He believes Jumia’s pivot is a sign of a maturing African e-commerce sector where disciplined growth, localisation and logistics excellence may define the next competitive frontier.

Nigeria’s banking sector is in the final stretch of its recapitalisation drive, with lenders intensifying capital actions ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) March 31 deadline.

Proshare analysts reported subdued industry activity in the week ended February 12, as focus shifted from fundraising announcements to regulatory validation and capital confirmation.

FCMB Group Nears International Licence Confirmation

FCMB Group is undergoing CBN verification to confirm compliance with the N500 billion minimum capital threshold for international banks, Proshare said.

The group secured a national banking licence in 2024 via an oversubscribed public offer and raised another ₦160 billion last year to retain its international status.

Analysts view the ongoing process as the final regulatory checkpoint, with success likely triggering a formal announcement of continued international operations amid tighter capital standards.

Other Major Banks Advance Plans

Sterling Bank is yet to unveil its recapitalisation strategy but faces a gap between its current ₦167 billion capital and the N200 billion requirement, with a rights issue or private placement expected.

GTCO Plc recently completed a ₦10 billion private placement, issuing 125 million shares at ₦80 apiece to a single investor. Proshare described it as a proactive buffer boost for growth, reflecting investor confidence.

First HoldCo Plc’s unaudited 2025 results revealed a heavy impairment charge that eroded earnings, underscoring asset-quality risks and the need for early planning and governance amid rising regulations.

Consolidation Speculation Grows

Market talk highlighted potential tier-1 mergers and bank investments in refineries and energy infrastructure, though unconfirmed.

Mid-tier lenders eye foreign capital and deals:

• Union Bank attracts UAE interest pending a legal dispute resolution.

• Keystone Bank draws local and foreign bids for joint acquisition.

• Polaris Bank may pursue investor recap or tier-2 merger.

Proshare’s Economic and Market Intelligence Unit noted CBN openness to M&As for resilient banks, with foreign partnerships vital for unencumbered capital despite domestic interest in distressed assets.

Fintech Race Adds Urgency

The CBN’s latest fintech report spotlights digital finance growth, urging banks to partner with fintechs for efficiency while managing competition.

Most tier-1 and tier-2 banks have met buffers, but tier-3 lenders scramble for funds or mergers. Eyes remain on confirmations like FCMB’s as the sector braces for a major reset.

Looking for a gift for your soulmate on February 14th and think that a gift card would be a nice option? Just remember that when digital trends rapidly rise in popularity with customers, they are also gaining traction with scammers looking to use them as bait.

With Saint Valentine’s Day approaching, Kaspersky has identified several phishing and malicious campaigns targeting gift card owners and those who’re looking for a digital present for their loved ones. To help stay safe, the security experts at Kaspersky have also shared practical advice on how not to be tricked.

A “check‑your‑balance” that drains your gift card

Kaspersky’s latest global survey* shows that 80% of respondents consider giving digital presents such as subscriptions, gaming credits or gift cards. Scammers are actively exploiting this trend capitalising on well-known brands, creating fake online stores and even crafting fake verification portals designed specifically to steal gift card value.

Kaspersky’s phishing detection identified deceptive platforms offering victims a “secure” system to check their gift cards validity, status or balance. Targeting those who recently received a gift card, phishers steal the card’s identification data and get an opportunity to activate the certificate before the user themselves.

To stay protected from such scams, Kaspersky recommends double‑checking that a website is real. Look carefully at the web address, any links you’re asked to click, and spot any odd pictures or designs that might hint the site is fake.

The safest way to confirm a gift card’s balance is to go straight to the brand’s official website – don’t follow any other links. To prevent clicking on a malicious link, use a security solution such as Kaspersky Premium with a strong AI-powered anti-phishing component.

Is it a gift card for you or for cybercriminals?

As gift shoppers flood online marketplaces with flash sales and limited-time deals, cybercriminals are watching closely, ready to strike when users are most vulnerable.

Kaspersky experts detected a fake website that mimics Amazon, one of the most famous marketplaces, offering $200 gift card. With this tempting offer, scammers encourage customers to press a “Get your Amazon gift card” button.  However, when the user clicks it, they get an MSI installer with a backdoor that cybercriminals use to remotely control the victim’s device.

This fraudulent scheme highlights the importance of complex cybersecurity protection, showing that clicking on a wrong link may result in not only money and data loss, but also device infection or loss of control over it. When a fake site copies the original store’s look exactly, it’s hard to tell which one is real and which is a scam.

Kaspersky Premium protects users from fraudulent online stores through advanced detection technology that analyses website characteristics and URLs to identify suspicious patterns.

For its excellent performance in AV-Comparatives Fake Shops Detection certification in 2025 Kaspersky Premium was awarded an “Approved” certificate, making it the right choice for confident online shopping.

“As Valentine’s Day approaches, cybercriminals may increase their efforts to exploit the emotional vulnerability and romantic spirit that define this holiday. They’re creating fake gift card websites, spoofing popular retailers, and launching phishing campaigns that prey on your desire to make your loved ones happy.

The best defence is to stick to well-known retailers, check URLs carefully, apply a security solution with advanced phishing detection and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is,” comments Anton Yatsenko, Lead Web Content Analyst at Kaspersky.