General News
Scalability, Interface Offer 2go’s Uniqueness- Herson
Marc was previously an Executive in Residence at Softbank Capital in Boston; and a Partner at Hasso Plattner Ventures Africa.
Prior to that Marc was with SONY BMG and Bertelsmann AG in New York and Munich as Senior Vice President of Strategy and New Ventures. Marc began his career as a corporate lawyer at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs in Johannesburg. He holds a BA, LLB and a MBA from INSEAD.
Marc has certifications in coaching and in mediation from Harvard Law School. Marc is a CPD faculty coach at Harvard Business School.
Overview of 2go
2go, a mobile social network and chat messenger that allows the users to communicate for free with friends and meet new people, is set to launch on the Android platform in the next weeks.
Today 2go is the largest social network in Nigeria with over nine million active users and is one of Africa’s largest mobile social networks, said Marc Herson, a director at the social network with offices in Cape Town, South Africa.
According to him, 2go is a fast trending network that users, primarily between the ages of 18 and 30, have become loyal users of. The median age of a 2go user is 23, many of which are university graduates or still at university. Herson adds that according to recent statistics the Nigerian population has remarkably a median age of 18, so the 2go user actually skews quite a bit older than the median age of Nigeria.
2go users hop on to the app to check in and chat with familyand friends for free, play games and meet people in chat rooms and discuss topics like football and music. 2go is a also cross-platform and allows users to chat with friends on Facebook and Google.
2go Success is Driven by the Users
2go’s success is due to a variety of factors.
First of all, it is about the product and the technology. Herson notes that “everything we do is focused around the product and the scalability of the platform.” We have minimal downtime, which with three million active users each day is absolutely critical. We are an app that scales.
Secondly, the app has a simple but beautiful user interface. The app is simple and easy to user, which is critical for users of feature phones. Far more than desktop-based users, users tend to be looking for an immediate hit of social connection so interfaces need to be fast and intuitive.
Thirdly, we are also focused on price sensitive users. The app is lightweight and offers users minimal use of data, thus providing savings on data costs. For instance, images are dramatically compressed, which enables users to share photographs a lot.
Mobile Ads
2go has a very powerful adverting platform and works with brands that include McDonalds, Stanbic IBTC, Guinness and host of others.
We have what we call ‘full-screen splash screen ads’. When someone logs on he views a full-screen ad for five seconds. The user can click on it to go to the brand’s own mobisite. Amazingly, up to 20 to 30% of the users click on the ads.
2go is a premium advertising platform and enables targeting of its audience by age, gender, location and other demographic characteristics. With 2go’s analytics platform brands can log on to track how their campaign is performing.
Free Music for 2go Users
When someone gets signed on to 2go there are various and interesting things that will keep him or her there.
In February this year, 2go entered into a partnership with iROKING to bring free music from the likes of Timaya, Flavour and 2Face to the phones of the millions of 2go users who use the mobile networking site to chat, make friends and share the things they love.
From Feature Phones to Smartphones
“Since inception, the success of 2go has been very much around feature phones which still make up about 90% of the market in Nigeria out of over 100 million mobile connections, said Herson, adding that, “The other ten percent are on smartphones, with 50% of those being on Blackberry.”
Feature phones still give people what they want, especially those who cannot afford smartphones.
“However, we are now also focusing on smartphones which is growing rapidly. In Nigeria it will grow from 10% to approximately 25% to 30% in 2016. Thus, we are moving fast. We are on Blackberry already; we now have hundreds of thousands of users of users on smartphones. Blackberry is important, but Android has even more promise,” he noted.
In a recent poll we ran to test smartphone purchase intend, 80% of our users said they intend to buy a phone in the next 12 months, and they said almost 90% of those new phones will be smart phones.
The director maintained that the team of 2go engineers have been working tirelessly, “We have developed a new Android application, which we are going to launch in matter of weeks.
We will first launch our Android app in Google’s Play Store and then Samsung’s App Store. Very shortly, you will see promotions with and 2go bundled data plan with some of the leading mobile networks and handset manufacturers.
2go gives more than 9 million Nigerians an honest, fun and expressive form of communication. “Watch this space” Herson says. “There is much more to come!”
The 2go platform is open to brands, marketers and others who wish to drive brand awareness and engagement to a mass market of Nigerians.
Generally, 2go is the platform to be on!
General News
Guinness Nigeria Sustains Growth Momentum in Q4 Amid Market Headwinds

Guinness Nigeria Plc has announced its unaudited financial results for the twelve months ended 30 June 2025, reporting a remarkable turnaround in performance despite a persistently challenging economic environment and an intensely competitive landscape.
The announcement comes in a landmark year for the company, as Guinness Nigeria celebrates 75 years of operations in Nigeria—a testament to the enduring strength of its brands, its people, and its commitment to brewing excellence.
In the period under review, the company delivered strong topline growth, with revenue rising by 65.8% to ₦496.6 billion, up from ₦299.5 billion in the previous year. Gross profit grew by 62.2% to ₦148.3 billion, while operating profit rose by 86.6% to ₦47.4 billion. Most notably, the company returned to profitability with a net profit after tax of ₦16.2 billion, compared to a ₦54.7 billion loss recorded in FY24.
These results reflect Guinness Nigeria’s focused execution of its strategic priorities, disciplined cost management, and the resilience of its people and portfolio.
Commenting on the performance, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, Chairman of the Board, said: “This strong turnaround speaks to the quality of leadership, clarity of vision, and strength of governance at Guinness Nigeria.
“As we mark 75 years of doing business in Nigeria, this performance underscores our long-standing resilience and commitment to value creation. The Board remains confident in the company’s long-term strategy and is committed to sustaining this momentum for our shareholders and stakeholders.”
Girish Sharma, Managing Director/CEO, added: “These results reflect our team’s focus, agility, and deep connection with our consumers. We have set a clear ambition—to be one of the best performing, most trusted, and most respected consumer products companies in Nigeria.
“That ambition is driving us to build a high-performance organisation with an entrepreneurial spirit. While the external environment remains dynamic, we are building on this momentum with confidence and purpose.”
Guinness Nigeria remains committed to delivering long-term, sustainable growth while continuing its legacy of enriching lives and communities across the country.
General News
FintechNGR Rejigs Nigeria Fintech Week with Multi-location Model

With the fast-evolving financial technology ecosystem, FintechNGR plans to restructure the model of Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW) coming up between October 7–9, 2025, with a next-level, bold experience and movement uniting over 20,000 multi-industry stakeholders across Africa’s digital landscape.
As part of the restructured model, the event will take place as a multi-location experience, bringing activities to Abuja, Delta, and Enugu, while the main event unfolds at the Landmark Centre in Lagos. This inclusive structure allows for broader access and reflects the national impact of fintech across all geopolitical zones.
Dr. Stanley Jacob, President, Fintech Association of Nigeria, disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, where the Association officially unveiled the direction for the 8th edition of Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW25), themed “The Fintech Ecosystem Symphony: Orchestrating Nigeria’s Digital Future.” This edition will spotlight how harmonised efforts across government, startups, corporates, and investors can accelerate financial innovation and inclusion across the continent.
According to him, “We’re no longer just an association; we are a movement. NFW25 is where partnerships will be born, sectors will be reimagined, and Nigeria’s digital economy will be orchestrated like a grand symphony.”
Since its inception in 2017, Nigeria Fintech Week has emerged as the continent’s foremost fintech convening – a catalyst for market-shaping conversations, regulatory advancements, and investment deals.
Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, Vice President and Chair of the Organising Committee, noted that this year’s expansion across multiple cities was designed to enhance accessibility, financial inclusion, and grassroots innovation. “Fintech is no longer for a select few. From the aviation sector to agriculture, from secondary school students to startup founders, this year, everyone has a seat at the table.”
Whether you’re a startup, policymaker, enterprise, student, creative or influencer, developer, or fintech enthusiast, your voice matters in this symphony. As Ms. Uche Uzoebo of SANE puts it, “Even food companies, schools, and churches are now digitizing. NFW25 is where they find solutions and partnerships.”
General News
Unmasking Nigeria’s Food Safety Crisis: A Dual Pathway to Public Health and Global Competitiveness

By Diana Tenebe, COO, Foodstuff Store
Nigeria, often heralded as Africa’s economic powerhouse and most populous nation, is grappling with a silent epidemic that exacts a devastating toll on its citizens and stifles its economic potential: a pervasive food safety crisis. This isn’t merely a matter of occasional discomfort; it’s a grim reality where over 200,000 Nigerians perish annually from foodborne illnesses, inflicting an estimated economic burden of US$3.6 billion each year. The current state of food safety is not just a public health nightmare; it’s a significant impediment to the nation’s economic growth and global trade aspirations, demanding immediate, comprehensive attention.
The challenges plaguing Nigeria’s food supply chain, from farm to fork, are multifaceted and deeply entrenched. Across the vast landscape, inadequate practices, weak enforcement mechanisms, and a widespread lack of awareness among both consumers and food handlers contribute to this grave situation. Unhygienic food handling, poor storage conditions, and the pervasive use of contaminated raw materials are disturbingly common, particularly within the vast informal food sector. This sector, a lifeline for many Nigerians, often operates without the most basic amenities, such as running water, adequate refrigeration, or proper waste disposal. The problem is further compounded by insidious issues like food fraud, deliberate adulteration of products, and the indiscriminate misuse of agrichemicals, leading to numerous documented cases of mass poisonings and tragic deaths across the country. A critical and alarming finding is the glaring absence of an organized system for monitoring food safety issues. This systemic failure means that incidents are often misclassified, under-investigated, and consequently, the true scope of the problem remains obscured.
Beyond the immediate public health ramifications, the ramifications of Nigeria’s weak phytosanitary policies and inadequate regulatory oversight ripple into the international arena, costing the nation millions in lost export revenue. The repeated rejection of Nigerian agricultural products by discerning international markets, including the EU, US, and various Asian countries, due to contamination from pesticides, aflatoxins, and pest infestations, severely limits market access and fundamentally undermines the nation’s agricultural competitiveness. The seven-year EU ban on Nigerian bean exports, initiated in 2015 and costing the country millions, stands as a stark and painful reminder of these systemic failures. It underscores the urgent need for a robust and internationally recognized food safety framework if Nigeria is to truly unlock its agricultural potential on the global stage.
Crucial regulatory bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), along with policies such as the National Policy on Food Safety (NPFS), are in place to ensure food safety in Nigeria. However, their full effectiveness faces ongoing challenges in implementation and enforcement.
These challenges often stem from overlapping responsibilities, insufficient funding, and a need for greater collaboration among the various agencies. Additionally, current legislation lacks comprehensive traceability requirements, which can make it difficult to identify the origin of contamination and assign accountability. Furthermore, certain traditional cultural practices sometimes present a barrier to the widespread adoption of modern, hygienic food handling standards.
Overcoming these formidable hurdles requires a concerted, multi-pronged strategy. For customers, fostering a culture of food safety is imperative. A pivotal step in addressing this crisis lies in empowering consumers through comprehensive public awareness campaigns and readily accessible food safety education. These initiatives must be presented in simple, digestible formats, perhaps through a “food safety culture toolkit” that demystifies complex information. Education should emphasize the critical importance of personal hygiene, safe food handling, proper storage, and effective preparation practices, all aligned with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) internationally recognized “Five Keys to Safer Food.” Also, promoting the widespread adoption of robust risk assessment and management tools, such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems, is vital for food businesses of all sizes. This proactive approach can significantly mitigate risks throughout the food production process.
For market competitiveness, elevating standards and enforcement should be the goal. To enhance Nigeria’s global market competitiveness, a strategic focus on strengthening regulatory oversight is paramount. This includes substantial investment in modern testing and quarantine infrastructure, which is essential for meeting stringent international standards. Furthermore, establishing a more coordinated and effective phytosanitary enforcement authority will streamline processes and ensure compliance. By improving these standards, Nigeria can drastically reduce export rejections, enhance its credibility in global trade, and unlock immense opportunities presented by schemes like the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which offers duty-free access to over 3,000 Nigerian products. Crucially, enacting the comprehensive National Food Safety and Quality Bill is a vital legislative step, along with ensuring greater involvement and capacity building for state and local authorities in food safety enforcement.
By prioritizing food safety, Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where it can not only safeguard the health and well-being of its citizens but also significantly boost its agricultural exports, attract much-needed foreign investment, create sustainable jobs, and ensure overall economic prosperity. This is not merely a regulatory issue; it is a fundamental pillar of national development.
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