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  • Jiji, Cars45 win technology awards

    Jiji, Cars45 win technology awards

    Online marketplace Jiji Nigeria, and Cars45, a technology-enabled automotive trading platform, have won awards at this year’s Nigeria Technology Awards (NiTA).

    Jiji Nigeria won two awards, “Excellence in E-commerce Innovation of the Year” and “Online Marketplace of the Year,” in Best Use of Technology and Website & Mobile Apps categories, respectively.

    Cars45 also won the ‘Online Car Selling and Buying Platform of the Year’ award in the Tech Business/Service category.

    NiTA, now in its 10th edition, was launched in 2015, to recognize and celebrate outstanding individuals and corporate organisations’ achievements and contributions in Nigeria’s technology and innovation space.

    Jiji Nigeria also earned the ‘Excellence in E-commerce Innovation of the Year’ for emerging Nigeria’s leading online classifieds platform, transforming how millions of Nigerians engage in buying and selling.  

    With over 12 million monthly visitors, Jiji, according to organisers of the awards, came top based on its focus on security and a user-friendly experience, which made it Nigeria’s top choice for online transactions.

    The citation also said beyond the marketplace, Jiji has been contributing to economic empowerment by promoting employment through initiatives such as the Youth Job Fair in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    On its part, Cars45, powered by Jiji, since its acquisition in 2021, was recognised as ‘Online Car Selling and Buying Platform of the Year,’ for its dedication to streamlining the car buying and selling process in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Jiji commited to empowering SMEs

    The automotive platform is also said to have built a reputation as a reliable and trusted partner in the auto industry, focusing on addressing key challenges faced by car buyers, sellers, and dealers alike.

    Cars45 offers a comprehensive range of services, including access to a wide selection of pre-inspected and verified vehicles, detailed inspection reports, and document verification processes to ensure authenticity and peace of mind for its customers.

    Regional Head of PR & Marketing, Jiji Africa, Majolie Obaje, expressed gratitude for the award, saying, “Over the years, Jiji has positioned itself as a leader in the classifieds sector within Nigeria’s e-commerce business and expanding to over eight countries in Africa.”

    She attributed Jiji’s sterling performance, over the years, to its capacity to leverage massive investments in technological solutions that make buying and selling between two people seamless, without an intermediary.

    According to her, Jiji has successfully taken out the middleman challenge that other platforms are unable to deal with. “So, when you now sell on the Jiji platform, you are interacting directly with the customer or the vendor. That makes us stand out as the first and only classifieds e-commerce platform operating in Nigeria,” she said

    Describing the innovation as ’one of its kind,’ Majoli said the dislodgement of middlemen takes away all the hassles and difficulties within the value chain of buying and selling, even for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

    She also stated that Jiji has been able to successfully reduce issues of scam to less than one per cent. “This is huge because when Jiji took over the online marketplace, it was riddled with scams.

    “It was alarming. But over the years, we have been leveraging technological solutions, by investing heavily in this we have been able to reduce scam rate on our platform to less than one per cent,” Majoli said.

    “And we are not just stopping there; we are constantly coming up with initiatives that help us educate our users on how to stay safe. We have also launched initiatives that have impacted over 200, 000 small businesses, not just in Nigeria but every other African country where we are currently present.

    “These and more definitely have brought us to this position of an industry leader. They have also made us to stand out in comparison with our competitors,” she added.

    For the Head, Technical Operations, Cars45, Damilola Ojurongbe, “This award is a shot in the arm. It is a catalyst to do more, and the recognition will propel us to test new things, test new ideas, test new solutions and drive them in the market.”

    Damilola, while describing the platform a unique, emphasized that the award will help Cars45 to sit back, look at what it has done for this year and then work on advancing it the coming year.

    One of the key highlights of NiTA 2024 was the official launch of the Nigeria Academic Excellence Awards (NAEA). The new initiative is designed to recognizse outstanding achievements in education, research and academic innovation.

    The Even Director/Advisory Board Member, NiTA, Felix Nnuji, explained that through NAEA, “We aim to spotlight individuals, institutionbs, and initiatives that are driving academic excellence in Nigeria, just as NiTA has done for technology.”

  • Jiji strengthens platform for resilience

    Jiji strengthens platform for resilience

    Online marketplace, Jiji, has said its ongoing efforts at strengthening the platform to make it more resilient reflect its adaptability to market trends. It restated its commitment to delivering a superior shopping experience.

    Its Regional Head of PR & Marketing, Majolie Obaje spoke after the company bagged “Best Retail Organisation in Range Excellence” award at the Africa Retail Awards 2024.

    The event was hosted by the Africa Retail Academy and Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University in partnership with Nairametrics and KPMG.

    Obaje said Jiji’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the platform, and its strategic collaborations with top sellers.

    The award reflects the exceptional dedication to delivering a wide and diverse product range that meets the needs of millions of buyers and sellers across Nigeria.

    The recognition came as the organisation gears up for its biggest sales event of the year – Black Friday 2024.

    With the award highlighting Jiji’s vast product offerings, this year’s Black Friday campaign promises to be the most exciting yet for shoppers seeking unbeatable deals across various categories.

    Read Also: Jiji commited to empowering SMEs

    Statistics by the National Retail Federation predicts that holiday spending will grow 2.5-3.5 per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) this 2024, reaching around $985 billion, while online shopping is expected to increase 8-9 per cent YoY by end 2024, reaching around $296 billion in sales.

    Accordingly, Jiji, to celebrate its win and further demonstrate its commitment to Nigerian consumers, is launching a Black Friday campaign featuring jaw-dropping discounts of up to 85 per cent across its product categories.

    Starting from today until November 29, 2024, shoppers can take advantage of significant savings on everything listed on Jiji, from smartphones and electronics to fashion, furniture, and beauty products.

    “We’re honoured to receive the ‘Best Retail Organisation in Range Excellence’ award. This recognition reflects our dedication to offering an expansive selection of products that cater to diverse consumer needs,” Obaje, said.

    She said as the organisation kicks off its Black Friday campaign, “We’re excited to give our customers access to incredible deals across over 15 categories. We remain committed to promoting the power to bargain, affordability, and convenience for our 12m+ users on Jiji.

    Obaje, while stating that customers all over Nigeria are set to save big while they get more value for their money, said Jiji has teamed up with verified top sellers to bring exclusive offers, providing a wide range of discounted items across categories including popular ones.

    She said, for instance, that under popular categories like Phones & Tablets, buyers can explore incredible prices on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming consoles, and that verified sellers are offering discounts of up to 85 per cent, making it the perfect time to upgrade tech devices for less.

    Same for Fashion, where according to her, shoppers looking to revamp their wardrobes will find unbeatable deals on outfits, shoes, and accessories. “Jiji’s fashion category offers everything from trendy street wear to luxury items at fantastic discounts,” she said.

    Also, under Home, Appliances & Furniture category, customers can elevate their living spaces with affordable furniture, home appliances, and air conditioners, all available at up to 85 per cent off. Obaje said it’s a prime opportunity for families to enhance their homes at pocket-friendly prices.

    Jiji’s Black Friday discount also applied to the Health & Beauty category, where luxurious fragrances, skincare products, and makeup essentials are all on sale, with significant markdowns that make it easy for beauty enthusiasts to grab their favourite items without breaking the bank.

    To ensure customers get the best out of this year’s Black Friday campaign, Obaje said Jiji is offering dedicated landing pages to their favourite items where they can easily discover the hottest deals.

    The company also advises shoppers to search early and frequently, as new deals are added regularly, so checking in often will help buyers get the most desired items. Shoppers are also advised to act fast because with limited-time offers and high demand, products may sell out quickly.

    Jiji emphasises the importance of following its safety tips when completing transactions. The platform encourages buyers to meet with sellers in public places, inspect items to be sure they meet their request, and only pay if satisfied.

    Jiji’s unique approach to offering a broad product range at competitive prices and its meet-inspect-pay model have been instrumental in shaping Nigeria’s e-commerce space.

    This Black Friday, the platform’s campaign not only reinforces its position as a market leader but also highlights the growing trend of online shopping among Nigerian consumers.

    Reports show consumers are increasingly concerned that in-store prices are not competitive with online prices, with 20 per cent of consumers saying they’ll increase their online spend this 2024.

  • Jiji commited to empowering SMEs

    Jiji commited to empowering SMEs

    Nigeria’s online marketplace Jiji has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by providing them with the promotional tools and support they need to boost their revenue and scale their businesses.

    The Regional Head of Public Relations (PR) and Marketing at Jiji, Majolie Obaje, gave this commitment while receiving the “SME Most Friendly Online Marketing Platform of the Year” award on behalf of the company, at the Nigerian National SME Business Awards (NNSBA) 2024.

    The NNSBA 2024 was organised by the Association of Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON) in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment.

    The award ceremony, which was held in Lagos, during the week, reinforced Jiji’s outstanding dedication to empowering its network of over 250, 000 SMEs.

    The company was applauded for its contribution to the SMEs ecosystem through continuous innovation, robust security systems, and user-friendly features that are designed to help businesses grow.

    Read Also: ‘Jiji helps SMEs to boost sales, revenue’

    Majolie said: “We’re truly honoured to receive this award from ASBON. At Jiji, we’re deeply committed to supporting SMEs by providing them with the promotional tools and support they need to boost their revenue and scale their businesses.

    As the Jiji Regional Head of PR and Marketing explained, “What drives us to do more is the satisfaction that comes with seeing thousands of businesses go from struggling to being able to grow an active customer base, increase their sales, and scale nationally.”

    She continued: “As you know, SMEs contribute about 48 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and account for 84 per cent of employment. We’ll continue to create innovative marketing tools and solutions to further strengthen their growth across Nigeria.”

    Majolie extended Jiji’s heartfelt gratitude to ASBON for the honour, and to its valued users for their continued support and trust. She also encouraged other stakeholders in the public and private sector to keep contributing their quota towards ensuring SMEs not only survive but flourish.

  • ‘Jiji helps SMEs to boost sales, revenue’

    ‘Jiji helps SMEs to boost sales, revenue’

    E-commerce platform Jiji Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to helping small businesses increase their sales and revenue, especially on special seasons like Black Friday, which is arguably, the biggest shopping season, where consumers hunt for unbeatable deals.

        Public Relations and Marketing Head at Jiji Nigeria, Majolie Obaje, said the company, in the spirit of this Black Friday, was poised to spotlight its important role as Nigeria’s leading e-commerce platform in empowering small enterprises, which are the lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy.

    Explaining how the platform supports small businesses, Obaje said: “We give them visibility to our vast audience of over 12 million users, affordable Boost Packages to make up to 50 times more sales than they would, dedicated support managers, and educational resources.”

        She added that this Black Friday, Jiji Nigeria has also prepared special price discounts on all her Boost Packages to support small businesses.

        “Our commitment is to continually empower small business owners and sellers to not just survive but thrive, even in trying times like now. And we’re doing this for over 200,000 businesses and sellers on our platform,” Obaje said.

        Justifying the company’s focus on small businesses this Black Friday, Obaje told The Nation that Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing 48 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing over 84 per cent of the workforce, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

        She, however, said despite this, SMEs in Nigeria often face challenges in scaling up, particularly during major shopping events like Black Friday.

        “Jiji and other e-commerce platforms have emerged as a lifeline for these businesses, offering them a unique opportunity to thrive and prosper,” Obaje stated.

    Read Also: Tinubu, Kyari will stimulate economic prosperity – Hassan

        The Jiji Nigeria Marketing Head listed some of the empowerment opportunities presented to SMEs in Black Friday by e-commerce platforms to include global reach, cost-effective promotion, secure transactions etc.

        She said, for instance, that with the global reach offered small businesses to showcase their products and services to a nationwide, and in some cases, international audience, Black Friday becomes a time when local artisans can become national entrepreneurs.

        Obaje also pointed out that traditional advertising can be expensive for small businesses, which is why e-commerce platforms provide affordable means of promoting Black Friday deals thereby allowing these sellers and business owners to channel more resources towards improving their products and services.

        Also, platforms like Jiji, Jumia, and Konga, according to her, prioritise trust and security, which reassures buyers and facilitates more successful transactions. “This is especially crucial for small businesses aiming to build credibility,” she emphasized.

        Obaje said a publication by ecommerceDB (ECDB), which publishes a broad range of in-depth reports and insights, covering analyses of e-commerce markets, ranked Nigeria 40th in global e-commerce, and is set to generate $6.65 billion by the end of this year.

        She noted that Nigeria’s e-commerce landscape is on the verge of a transformative revolution, with anticipated growth of 10.8 per cent by 2027.

        “The promise of sustainable growth and empowerment of small enterprises are at the heart of the transformation,” Obaje told The Nation.