General News
Netpreneur: The Rise of Nigeria’s Digital Whiz
By Adeniyi Ogunfowoke
It is no longer unusual for Nigerians to introduce themselves as netpreneurs since the digital and technology age has introduced groundbreaking changes to the way business is being done. Nigeria’s growing economy has undoubtedly felt the impact.
Contemporarily, you simply need an internet-savvy smartphone and in some cases, a well-designed website to get the badge of a netpreneur. So, who is a netpreneur? A netpreneur – short for internet entrepreneur – is an individual who sells his merchandise or service via the Internet.
It is, therefore, unsurprising that an increasing number of Nigerians are aggressively taking advantage of the internet to carve a life for themselves by making their business sojourn online as either a side hustle or a full-time job.
However, it is not only Nigerians who are venturing into the online world. Before this frenzy to become a netpreneur started, ecommerce firms like Jumia and some others have left their footprint in the sands of online business.
Then, a good number of Nigerians never thought that business could actually be done online. With the possibility and popularity which Jumia gave online business, Nigerians began to troop into the world of ecommerce.
This gradually gave rise to the digital whizkid. The digital whizkid uses social media to transact his business. He/she simply post good pictures of his/her products on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Such an individual is just a direct message away from receiving an order request from potential customers. This is quite seamless and attractive.
Furthermore, the travel industry is currently benefiting from this as young tour operators take advantage of social media to market their tours and they have actually been getting people who are willing to go on tour with them. As an added incentive, Jumia’s hotel and flight services have been partnering with some of these tour operators to help them push their packages. This has assisted in no small measures to promote Nigeria’s tourist attractions.
Meanwhile, while these Nigerians are using social media. others go the extra mile to set up a website for either their product or service and use social media for marketing their product. Hence, the netpreneurs behind this do not need to spend extra to market their businesses because they have social media at their disposal for that purpose.
Lessons digital whiz can learn from big online brands
There is no discrimination when it comes to being a netpreneur because as long as you are doing a business online, you are one. This said, there are some big players and pacesetters like Jumia when it comes to doing business online and there is so much these digital whizzes can learn. Some of these things include (1) Reliability and trust: A lot of fraudulent activities take place with online businesses. Thankfully, Jumia has invested heavily in technology to fight fraud and even has its own payment gateway, Jumia Pay to ensure that payments are securely and safely processed. For the digital whiz, they simply need to ensure that orders are delivered when they receive the customer’s alert.
(2) Listen to what customers are saying: understanding who your customers are is critical to being a successful business, no matter the size of your business. All startups and small businesses start with an idea. It can be easy for a small business owner to want to drive every business decision by their initial concept and do what they think is right to get their product or service in the hands of the customers.
(3) Know who you are: Putting processes and procedures together not only helps to organise the business, but they also help companies define what kind of business they want to be. Big companies have strong brand personalities that people can identify with. They know who they are and they know who they want to target; small businesses need to aim to achieve the same.
The netpreneur trend is awesome especially for Nigeria because it is a good way to start up a business with small capital. If the digital whizzes can actually learn from the big players in the online world; in no time, they will become one of the most recognised netpreneurs in the country.
Nigeria’s startup ecosystem received a fresh injection of momentum as top emerging ventures secured funding and investor attention at the iHatch National Demo Day, where Interface Africa clinched the highest prize of $15,000.
The 4th cohort of the NITDA–JICA-backed accelerator brought together founders, policymakers, and venture stakeholders in Abuja, showcasing innovations ranging from clean-energy financing and digital food marketplaces to next-gen fintech tools.
The startups went rounds of running through state-level selections and regional competition. iHatch was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to develop and scale their innovative solutions.
The iHatch National Demo Day (4th Cohort), is an initiative by NITDA and JICA which provides a clear pathway for homegrown talent to contribute significantly to economic diversification and digital transformation.
After rigorous selection processes, the top founders converged to pitch their innovations, recognised the standout performers, which are:
Interface Africa with $15,000, the firm is driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition by enabling structured and affordable solar financing.
Ahioma with $12,000, the firm enhances food accessibility with a digital marketplace connecting consumers directly to trusted vendors.
Linia Finance with $10,000, the firm is helping Nigerians take control of their finances with tools for budgeting, tracking, and smart money planning.
Chapta got a laptop reward. They delivering an offline-capable school application ensuring consistent, accessible learning for students everywhere.
Softdrop also got a laptop reward, they solve logistics challenges through a modern delivery platform designed for speed, convenience, and efficiency.
Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.
Fidelity Bank
The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.
Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.
The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.
These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.
The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.
“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.
“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading digital banking platform, has renewed its commitment to deepening financial inclusion across the country. At the CeBIH Annual Conference 2025, themed “Reimagining Financial Inclusion through Cultural Shifts in Consumer Credit,” PalmPay’s Managing Director, Chika Nwosu, urged industry players to deepen financial inclusion by embracing community-aligned solutions and customer-centric innovations that can better serve Nigeria’s underserved and unbanked populations.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Social Inclusion, A Veritable Tool for Financial Inclusion,” Chika Nwosu joined other industry leaders to share insights on strengthening participation among women, rural dwellers, low-income earners, and other financially excluded groups.
Chika Nwosu highlighted PalmPay’s commitment to inclusive finance through its 500,000-strong agent network, which enables seamless cash-in/cash-out services for unbanked users across Nigeria. He also emphasised the importance of PalmPay’s USSD platform, 861#, which allows users with basic phones or limited internet access to perform essential financial transactions.
“Financial inclusion goes beyond access; it must be equitable and tailored to real-life needs,” Chika Nwosu said. He shared how PalmPay leverages behavioural insights to design impactful services, including affordable health insurance, reliable bill payments, merchant solutions, and automated savings features that support financial discipline among users.
The session further examined the role of grassroots agents and community touchpoints in driving last-mile adoption. Chika Nwosu noted that PalmPay’s widespread community presence continues to build trust and encourage excluded populations to embrace digital financial tools.
The session was moderated by Ronke Kuye of the CeBIH Advisory Council and featured representatives from E-Doc Online, SmartCash Payment Service Bank, SANEF, and EFINA.
PalmPay reaffirmed its commitment to driving accessible, secure, and inclusive financial services for all Nigerians. PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.
PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.
Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.
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