Secrets of Our Rapid Growth—Jumia CEO

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Chief Executive Officer of Jumia Nigeria, Ms Juliet Anammah, has revealed the main secrets responsible for the growth across Africa.

According to Ms Anammah, the firms’ integrated and interconnected ecosystem across its 23 markets in Africa has helped to build a solid foundation for the company in Nigeria and across Africa.

Speaking recently with some foreign media delegates, who came to Nigeria to tour the company’s expansive Lagos warehouse located in Ikeja, Lagos, the Jumia boss said, “We built one integrated, inter-connected ecosystem that captures most of the simple day to day needs that people could do on the same platform rather than multiple platforms.

“That really helps in scaling the business, building one brand across the continent and building the same experience for consumers across the continent. Rather than just focusing on shopping, we included the other things people would normally do: order food, book flights and hotels.”

Ms Anammah also mentioned that the deficiency of logistics infrastructure in the country should be seen as an opportunity, rather than a challenge.

She stressed that the deficit allows for the aggregation of multiple third-party logistics players in the market because there are many people who have some logistics capacity, but they have not operated in an e-commerce environment.

“Infrastructure deficit is a challenge and an opportunity for the aggregation of multiple third-party logistics players in the market because you do have people who have some capacity, it’s just that they have not operated in an e-commerce environment.

“But we’re (Jumia) also creating a marketplace for them. We’re trying to aggregate them and create a marketplace where they can have assets like tricycles, and small vans which they can use to deliver in different parts of the country. Then, we also provide the technology for them to be able to deliver the haulage we give them.”

Jumia is building tomorrow’s African e-commerce infrastructure with online and mobile world-class marketplaces, providing affordable and convenient services to consumers and helping them fulfil their everyday needs. Jumia’s mission is to transform and improve people’s lives – thanks to technology.

Through its different platforms and services namely Jumia e-commerce, Jumia Travel, Jumia Food, Jumia House, Jumia Deals, Jumia Jobs, Jumia Pay, Jumia One and Jumia Services, the company is fostering the digital shift of the entire African economy.

Jumia is supporting the growth of African companies and expanding their horizons. More than 60, 000 local African companies and individuals do business on Jumia.