Brands/Products
Are you Noticing this Emerging B2B e-Commerce Trend?
By Victor George
Twitter is now back in business in Nigeria. Having taken a hiatus from a conversation on the bird app after the suspension by the federal government, I returned sometime last week.
As usual, Twitter Nigeria is a no dull moment space. The African Cup of Nations is on and memes were flying regarding the big-name casualties of the tournament. African football powerhouse, Ghana was dumped out of the tournament at the group stage after losing to debutants, Comoros Islands. “What is a Comoros?” “Trouble be like Comoros” were some of the trending hashtags on Twitter.
In the midst of the fun and banter, something caught my attention: a retweet popped up on my timeline of a tweet by @ajalayemi. It was something different from the flow of things in space. The author of the tweet is based in Ibadan. His tweet was about branding by Alerzo Limited, a business-to-business e-commerce platform delivering goods with vans and buses. He was fascinated by what he saw and decided to do some little search about the company.
From his findings, Alerzo’s business model was designed to make business seamless for informal retailers. Unlike the Kongas and Jumias that connect sellers to customers, Alerzo is connecting informal retailers to direct supply from manufacturers. An informal retailer is that woman with a small shop on your street who sells almost everything. Yoruba call them “gbogbo lowo”, meaning “I sell all you need”. These sellers are forced to close their shops when going to the market to restock. Some of them lose customers in the process. The stress of frequent market trips also takes a toll on them both mentally and physically. So what Alerzo service implies is that instead of market trips, they simply pick up their phones to restock, or order via Alerzo app and get their stocks delivered at their shops.
The idea sounded novel to me. I’ve not heard or seen such in Nigeria. At that point, I decided to do some digging about the company. Alerzo started off in Ibadan almost two years ago as the brainchild of the son of an informal retailer. In one of his interviews, the Chief Executive Officer of Alerzo Limited, Adewale Opaleye said he witnessed first-hand the ordeals of his mother who went through a lot to keep her retail business going while managing the family. He saw the gap that could be bridged by e-commerce technology and decided to make it a reality in Nigeria.
Alerzo is not the only company offering this type of service, there are others like Omnibiz, TradeDepot. Their services are already being enjoyed in other parts of the South West, North West and North Central. Apparently, I’ve been missing a growing trend, just like many of my readers right now. Thousands of retailers are already enjoying the ease and convenience of e-commerce. Improved lifestyle, increase in profit and savings are the immediate benefits that come with the service.
On a broader scale, these platforms with their services will spike huge business activities in the digital space in the next few years. This is due to the fact that informal retail is a multimillion-dollar business in Nigeria. Imagine the economic benefits Nigeria will derive from bringing just 50% of those retailers into the digital economy space.
The increasing rate of mobile phone adoption in Nigeria makes this a possibility. In 2021, the number of mobile internet users in Nigeria amounted to over 101.7 million, with over 32% using smartphones. The rate of smartphone usage is increasing and many of these sellers can afford the cheaper versions. As a matter of fact, many informal retailers have tech-savvy children who indirectly hijack their phones for games and internet surfing. With the help of these young ones, they can easily make their orders and get them delivered.
For all tech enthusiasts, this is an interesting trend to watch. There are reports of millions of dollars investment by external investors in the B2B e-commerce platforms. This shows the faith and belief that the model can work in the country. From all indications, there are interesting times ahead for informal retailers in Nigeria thanks to a new wave of innovators opening up the market to new possibilities.
Victor George, a tech enthusiast, writes from Lagos
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Brand Management Academy (BMA) held its highly anticipated inaugural Alumni Network ceremony on Saturday, June 14, bringing together some of Africa’s brightest minds in brand and commercial leadership.
Hosted in Lagos, the event officially launched a growing community of over 450 marketing and sales professionals trained by BMA, cutting across key industries including FMCG, tech, finance, telecommunications, and manufacturing.
The ceremony attracted top-tier professionals, C-suite executives, and emerging talents, all bonded by the Academy’s shared mission to drive brand excellence and leadership across the continent.
“This is more than just a reunion,” said Olusegun X. Akinyemiju, the newly inaugurated President of the BMA Alumni Network. “It’s the birth of a movement — a strategic community of commercial leaders committed to raising the bar for brand and business performance in Africa. Our collective impact starts now.”
The event featured inspiring keynote sessions, alumni showcases, industry spotlights, and a vibrant after-party that captured the energy and spirit of the BMA community.
The executive committee of the Alumni Network was also formally unveiled. The team had emerged earlier in February following a fiercely contested election that drew attention from marketing professionals and external observers alike, highlighting how creative campaign strategies can be deployed even in electoral processes.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abiodun Ajiborode, Founder of BMA, emphasized the importance of the Alumni Network to the Academy’s long-term vision.
“The alumni network was always part of the plan. We didn’t just want to produce skilled professionals, we wanted to build an ecosystem of brand custodians. A platform where leaders can grow, collaborate, and influence the industries they serve.”
The Network is already gearing up for impact, with plans for mentorship programs, thought leadership sessions, community outreach, and strategic partnerships to drive marketing innovation across Africa.
The inaugural ceremony was more than a celebration, it was a declaration of intent. The BMA Alumni Network is stepping into its new chapter with clarity, purpose, and momentum.
“We are just getting started,” said President Akinyemiju. “The real power of BMA is not only in what we learned, but in what we will build together.”
From Monday, 16 June to Thursday 31 July, when you pay your subscription, you will get upgraded to the next package. No charge. No extra step. Just more shows, more channels, and more to come home to. That’s not all, if you need to get GOtv, for a limited time, the decoder is available for N9,000 only.
Why? Because we’ve got you!
So, here’s what you can watch during this period.
Club World Cup – The first of its kind, with teams from all over the world. Your favourite teams (just the big ones) – Real Madrid, PSG, Man City, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid etc. It runs from June 15 to July 16.
Shaka Ilembe Season 2 – The best (and by a huge mile) epic drama series created in Africa. It’s a gritty biopic of one Africa’s most celebrated heroes. This second season, the story reaches its climax as Shaka unites the Zulu nation. Shaka Ilembe season 2 started on June 15, and airs by 10:00 PM every Sunday on Africa Magic Showcase and Epic.
Nigerian Idol Season 10 – The tenth season of Nigerian Idol is delivering what we expected and more. The quality of contestants on the show at the moment all have what it takes to win the show. Now every episode feels like a fight to win it!
BBNaija No Loose Guard Reunion – While BBNaija No Loose Guard felt like a hangout with friends; the reunion is a totally different firecracker! It’s one last chance to let the world know how they truly feel about some of their fellow housemates, and they didn’t hold anything back.
BBNaija Season 10 – The most anticipated season of the biggest reality TV show in Africa. If there’s one thing we can all count on,
If these are not your piece of cake, then there’s a new era of rich and deep drama series on Africa Magic Showcase between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM every week day.
Manage your account with the MyGOtv App and take your content wherever you go with GOtv Stream both available for download on the Android or iOS store. Login or register your profile and always stay on top of your account and viewing needs. Reconnect and get boosted so you can watch more without paying more because we’ve got you everyday!
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The iconic chili oil from Rwanda, Akabanga Chili Oil, will now be solely distributed in Nigeria by Akabanga Lagos, following the 100 per cent stake acquisition of Akabanga 4U Limited.
To deepen market penetration and create strategic partnerships to position Akabanga Chili Oil as a household staple in Nigerian homes and restaurants, Akabanga Lagos is launching an aggressive dealer mobilisation campaign across the 36 states of the federation, aimed at boosting nationwide availability and visibility of the product.
Crafted in Rwanda by the renowned Sina Gérard/Entreprise Urwibutso, Akabanga Chili Oil is a premium blend of yellow African habanero peppers, sunseed oil, and natural spices.
Available in 20ml and 100ml bottles, the oil is cherished for its distinct smoky, earthy flavour and versatility perfect as a condiment or cooking oil across a variety of local and international dishes.
“Nigerians are known for their love of flavour-packed, spicy food, and Akabanga hits the right note with just a few drops.
“This acquisition is a dream realized. Having championed this product in Nigeria for years, we are honoured to now lead its national distribution.
“Fondly called Rwanda’s little secret, we’re excited to help more Nigerians discover its magic,” the founder of Akabanga Lagos, Ms Temitope Mudabai, stated.
Also, the founder of Sina Gérard/Entreprise Urwibutso, Mr Sina Gerard, said, “Nigeria boasts one of the largest consumer markets in Africa and is well known for its mouthwatering and diverse gastronomy.
“We are excited to partner with Akabanga Lagos to introduce this delicious tasting product to the market and we are confident that our product will feel right at home here in Nigeria.”
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