The Edo State Government has entered a partnership with Konga, Nigeria’s leading e-commerce platform, to bring not less than 10,000 businesses online and provide jobs to millions of people in the state with the launch of an online marketplace through the Konga platform.
Managing Director of the Edo State Skills Development Agency, EdoJobs, Ukinebo Dare disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
She said the platform is to enable businesses operating in the state to reach more customers online and enjoy the benefits of e-commerce through the digital infrastructure provided by Konga.
According to her, “We are excited to have launched the online marketplace as it opens a new vista of opportunities for entrepreneurs operating in the state. A lot of them already enjoy immense support from the government, but we see this as another viable way of improving access to the market.
“We are already making capital available to them with the N2bn MSME fund for entrepreneurs in the state being managed by the Bank of Industry (BoI). We have a plan to bring 10,000 existing businesses online, and the state government is actively supporting the initiative.”
Dare noted that the state government has done a preliminary mapping of businesses in the major business districts in the state through the Data to MEGA project, noting, “In Oredo Local Government Area (LGA), we have 11,152 small and medium businesses. In Owan West LGA, we have 501 small and medium businesses; the same data were collated across the state.”
The plan, according to the management of Konga, is to bring online over 10,000 businesses starting from remote villages, towns and local government areas to the capital, Benin City within the first year of the partnership.
These merchants include makers of indigenous products from Edo State including furniture, hair manufacturers, artifacts, handcrafts, production machines, fashion wears and spare parts, among others.
Co-CEO, Konga Group, Nick Imudia noted that the partnership with the state government will translate to job creation opportunities for qualified Edo indigenes.
“Edo State has shown its readiness for digital transformation and has an environment highly conducive for the people of the state to thrive,” he said.
