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BuuPass Delivering Unique Services in the Race to Digitize Mobility in Africa

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In H1 of 2022, the logistics and mobility accounted for 11.4% of the total funds raised by African startups, making it the second-highest after FinTech startups.

If this is anything to go by, Africa’s mobility sector is experiencing a boom like never before. At the granular level, mobility companies solve key challenges in the transportation value chain by offering proprietary technology, which makes mobility a service of convenience and choice.

From SWVL in Egypt to Moove in Nigeria and SafeBoda in Uganda, we’ve seen innovative trends centring around ease of access through e-hailing, credit facilitation to driver-partners, inter/intra-city ride-sharing, digital infrastructure for operators and overall convenience for users.

Yet, with the proliferation of ride-hailing and logistics services that attempt to solve these key issues, mobility companies have yet to scratch the surface. A plethora of other challenges exist that hinder the mobility landscape from reaching its true potential; urban congestion, insufficient data on routes, unregulated public transit agencies and most importantly, unavailability of robust end-to-end digital infrastructure management for operators.

“Everyday over 30 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) travel from one city to another and over 40B dollars are spent every year on domestic travel and transport.” says Wyclife Omondi, Cofounder of BuuPass “However the market is hyper fragmented and broken. This means: A single intercity bus operator with an average of 30 buses and 20 bus stops has its operator using pen and paper to manage their operations, hence causing cash leakage and a bad customer experience.”

Founded in 2016, BuuPass provides a holistic solution to both operators and end users in the mobility ecosystem. Its web platform enables long-distance transport operators to digitise and manage their services, inventory and sales, minimise cash leakages, and run seamless online bookings through its Bus Management System (BMS).

It also offers affordable parcel logistics for individuals and businesses that are cost sensitive to high prices from current logistics & shipping providers.  On BuuPass, travellers are able to explore and compare different travel options and make payments with mobile money.

Armed with the mission to bridge the gap between the operators and 500m+ mobile phone users in Sub-Saharan Africa, founders Wyclife Omondi and Sonia Kabra, say “BuuPass solves key customer pain points on B2B and B2C side while building scalable infrastructure and digitizing the transport industry from the grassroots. Yet, digitising mobility across Africa wouldn’t be a walk in the park, given the continent’s regional complexities.”

What does it take to truly digitise mobility in Africa?

According to the International Transport Forum (2018) Blockchain and Beyond, held in Paris,  three major layers are required to bolster the digitisation of mobility – operators, IT providers and mobility service providers.

Transportation operators

Although transit agencies are a core part of the mobility value chain, travelers often face cost ordeals and tedious booking processes. “It takes travelers unnecessary time and money to compare platforms while trying to book tickets. With BuuPass digitalisation, both challenges are taken care of because we do not only cut costs for users or commuters, we also reduce administrative overhead for bus operators by offering a fleet and parcel management solution,” says Omondi

IT (data and communication) service providers

According to the OECD report, physical ICT infrastructures such as wireless networks and cables are important for essential information dissemination, from schedules, destinations, and fares. Application Programming Interface (API) also helps to determine the communication methods that allow public retrieval. To deliver on its value proposition, BuuPass has partnered with Safaricom, East Africa’s largest mobile network operator, to provide hosting, security and flexible digital payments through M-Pesa.

Mobility service providers

As a mobility service provider, BuuPass aggregates key information, ranging from data, including location, time, and price, relevant for travellers and authorities to execute regulatory functions.

With over 1,000,000 bus users, more than 920 buses in operation and 800+ locations covered in Kenya and Uganda, BuuPass’ all-in-one platform is demonstrating its capacity to alleviate the hurdles of transport operators and at the same time facilitate the convenience of commuters.

Currently, the platform processes over 10,000 bookings daily and looks to quadruple this number in Q1, 2023. “While the race to digitise mobility in Africa is far from over, BuuPass is one of the few solution providers attempting to ensure everyone in the value chain is catered to, one pan-African country at a time. We are different because we have something for everyone in the value chain – operators, commuters, and regulators. We are ensuring that no one is left behind.” says Kabra


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Adeleke Describes Adenuga’s Contribution to African Economy as Unquantifiable

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Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State Governor, has described the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr., as an icon who has made enormous contributions to the development of Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking when he received the Public Sector team from Globacom in his office at Osogbo recently, the governor also commended the positive impact the company has made in the telecoms industry in terms of innovation and pricing.

He described Dr Adenuga as a great believer in Nigeria “whose impact on the Nigerian and the African economy cannot be quantified”.

Adeleke assured the Globacom team led by Niyi Odejobi of his government’s readiness to explore areas of business partnership with the company. “Be rest assured that this partnership is already a reality. We just need to work out the details”, Senator Adeleke noted.

He urged telecommunications companies to strengthen ties with the state government, adding that “the subnational entities are where your market is. Even though the regulatory body is national, your market base remains the states and the local governments. You must deliberately prioritize partnership with the state government.

“The telecom community must understand that giving full support to the states in terms of payment of right taxes and corporate social responsibility is an investment in your market. The more robust the state governments are, the more buoyant your market will be,” the governor said.

In his own remarks, Odejobi pledged Globacom’s support for the growth and development of Osun State, adding that it would deploy various internet and digital infrastructure to promote governance and businesses in the state.


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Foodstuff Store introduces Innovative Recycling Program

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Foodstuff Store, an AgriTech company on Wednesday announced the introduction of its innovative recycling program. The expansion of the corporate mission to include waste management and recycling solutions underlines the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Foodstuff Store is providing a way by which their customers who are provided with wholesome and fresh food products directly from farmers can now dispose of their plastic wastes as an added service, thereby reducing their ecological footprint.

For every waste item delivered for recycling by customers, they’ll receive a credit that can be used for a next purchase at the Foodstuff Store.

Not only will this ensure a contribution to a cleaner environment, but it will also provide a way to incentivise their efforts towards adopting sustainability practices.

“We are thrilled to offer our customers a convenient way to recycle and contribute to a cleaner Nigeria and a cleaner planet,” says Diana Tenabe, Chief Operating Officer at Foodstuff Store. “By offering rewards for recycling, we hope to incentivize eco-conscious behavior within our communities in Nigeria.”

Nigeria faces a significant challenge with plastic pollution. The prevalence of single-use plastics, which is caused by widespread use of sachet water pouches, plastic shopping bags, and take-away containers, leads to massive waste generation. There are also recycling capacity challenges in Nigeria, where only a small percentage of plastic waste gets recycled.

Additionally, indiscriminate disposal of plastics and other waste materials contributes to overflowing landfills with plastics, clogged drainages that lead to flooding, and harming marine life.

Foodstuff Store believes that by working together with its customers, it can create a positive impact on the environment. This new program allows customers to enjoy the quality products and services they expect from Foodstuff Store, while also contributing to a more sustainable future.


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Edenlife Opens the first Homemade Outlet Store in Oniru, to open 49 more Across the Country 

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Homemade by Eden, the food retail business of Nigerian home concierge startup, Edenlife has marked a significant step towards National expansion with the launch of its first Outlet store in Oniru, Lagos State. This move signals the company’s commitment to bringing its signature homemade meals directly to consumers across the country.

Commenting on the launch of the Oniru Outlet, Nadayar Enegesi, CEO of Edenliife stated, ‘’At Eden Life, it’s in our DNA to adapt and meet the evolving needs of our consumers.

The new outlet store by Homemade exemplifies this commitment. These outlet stores will deliver delicious, home-cooked meals to its customers and create job opportunities in logistics and tech support, driving local economic growth.

By sourcing fresh ingredients from smaller Nigerian farms, we strengthen the agricultural sector and ensure a reliable supply chain. And there’s more to come we have plans to launch mobile kitchens in other strategic locations across the nation.

It’s a win-win situation – our customers enjoy a taste of home, we create jobs, empower local businesses, and contribute to a stronger Nigerian economy.’’

The establishment of these outlet stores translates to new job opportunities in logistics and potentially tech support for the mobile units. Additionally, the focus on fresh, local ingredients could encourage partnerships with smaller Nigerian farms, strengthening the agricultural sector and supporting local food production.

This localized approach to food delivery keeps money circulating within communities and fosters a more sustainable economic ecosystem.

Speaking at the launch event on Friday, May 10, 2024, Orafiri Adoki, Business Lead of Homemade stated that some of Nigeria’s food culture has not been fully explored.

She stated, “Nigeria has such a rich culture around food, which has not been explored to its maximum. So, with the launch of the Homemade outlet, we hope to introduce some of the meals Nigerians are used to at home while providing creative and innovative ways to enjoy these meals,” .

As Nigeria’s e-commerce sector continues to evolve, Eden Life’s innovative approach positions the company as a frontrunner in driving industry growth and reshaping consumer expectations. By providing a seamless omnichannel shopping experience, Edenliife not only captures market share but also cultivates meaningful connections with Nigerian consumers.

Nigeria’s e-commerce industry has been experiencing a boom in recent years, driven by factors like increasing internet penetration, smartphone adoption, and a growing young population. The e-commerce market in Nigeria is estimated to be around USD 8.53 billion in 2024.

It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.82% during the forecast period (2024-2029), reaching approximately USD 14.92 billion by 2029. E-commerce is expected to continue its strong growth trajectory in Nigeria, presenting immense potential for e-commerce platforms like Edenlife to capitalize on the rising demand for convenient and affordable food options.


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