By Dipo Olowookere
An investment expert and University of Lagos-trained pharmacist, Mr Sunkanmi Vaughan, has launched a platform where Nigerians can access freebies donated by individuals, corporate organisations and others.
The initiative, FreeStuffsNg.com, according to him, was created when he discovered that some givers do not know any credible platform they could make donations to help those who desperately need the items.
In a chat with MSME Africa recently, Mr Vaughan said this gap inspired him to come up with the idea of FreeStuffsNg.com, which connects credible and authentic givers with those in need of the donated materials.
“From my personal experience during the lockdown, I had to be requesting people in my circle to help recommend a needy person who will spend the donated cash gift only on food and many people turned up.
“To get the eventual beneficiaries was cumbersome as I had to be calling on the phone to confirm the beneficiaries.
“Though it was a success, it didn’t stop me from reflecting and eventually starting FreeStuffsNg.com to help solve that problem.
“To the glory of God and support of everyone, it has been phenomenal since our launch,” Mr Vaughan told MSME Africa in the interview.
Explaining how the platform works, he said, “The platform is absolutely free and user-friendly for sales promotion of products and services especially for those corporate organisations that want to give or test their products to get credible authentic feedbacks.
“FreeStuffsNg is equally very good for raising funds for worthy causes without the need to go to foreign platforms like Gofund Me.
“Unlike those foreign platforms, we accept cash and physical goods donation on behalf of verified registered members who post their needs on our platform.
“We ensure donated cash and/or physical goods are received by the verified beneficiaries with evidence and testimonials from the beneficiaries received from the beneficiaries and posted on our platform.
“So, if you want to give, even as little as airtime, UTME forms, school shoes etc or cash, please go and register now and post it on FreeStuffsNg.
“If you are an organisation currently helping us reduce the inconvenience caused by this lockdown or doing sales promotion and offering free stuff to get into the market, you should register and post it on FreeStuffsNg for others to see it on the website and when we broadcast it to others daily.
“If you have a free webinar or zoom training or have free music or offer free services like legal aid, counselling etc, you are welcome to post it on FreeStuffsNg.”
Concluding, he said, “To donors, I will say the idea of giving away your product for free can feel a little daunting. After all, someone has to pay for that—and when it comes to free samples, the cost is borne by you.
“But don’t let that deter you, because your free samples can generate a lot of sales for you.
“In some cases, free samples can boost sales by as much as 2000percent. In some cases, giving out free samples can eliminate or reduce advertising and marketing costs.”
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka