Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant, has partnered with the Edo State government to create jobs for millions of youths in the state, while also empowering entrepreneurs, business owners and other beneficiaries in the state by bringing their products and services to the consciousness of a global audience.
The partnership, unveiled at a citizens’ engagement session held in the state capital on Thursday, August, 26, 2021, a statement explained, has been hailed by the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki as a landmark development.
In his speech at the event, Gov. Obaseki disclosed that Konga was chosen for its cutting-edge technology and remarkable leadership in the e-commerce, even as he reiterated the importance of the partnership to the job creation strategies of the state government.
‘‘We are delighted to partner with Konga on this very significant development in Edo State. We have continued to create opportunities for Edo youths as our administration is open, transparent and competent in all we do. Therefore, we urge Edo people to trust us, as all the opportunities that we present are real, and life-transforming for Edo people.
‘‘We needed information to transform the state. As such, we embarked on the collation of data through our youths with the Data for MEGA project. 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.
‘‘These businesses and others will be exposed to a global audience and more patronage through Konga,’’ he stated.
The event, held at the Government House, in Benin City, also witnessed the unveiling of a N2bn fund for Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to support entrepreneurs in the state.
The agreement with the state government will see Konga onboard Edo State on its online marketplace, with products and services from the state listed exclusively on the store. In addition, the e-commerce platform will offer mentorship and capacity-building programmes to aid the development of business owners and other merchants from the state on the platform.
The ambitious 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.
Speaking at the event, Co-CEO, Konga Group, Nick Imudia also noted that the partnership with the state government will translate to tons of job creation opportunities for qualified Edo natives.
‘‘Edo state has shown its readiness for digital transformation and has an environment highly conducive for the people of the state to thrive.
‘‘With the advent of COVID-19, the new normal is that governments and agencies the world over have begun to source multiple ways of reducing cost and deliveries. With Konga, not only would you have a great partner to help with this transition, you’d also be able to cut costs through our platforms that have been built to cater for changes in the marketplace. This is exactly the reason we are working to continue this initiative we believe will create gainful employment and, most importantly, promote products from Edo state.
‘‘In addition, we intend to bring a variety of products to the marketplace at cheaper prices. These include FMCG products, mobile phones, electronics, Computing products, genuine health care products for pharmacies, chemists, cheaper data and much more. We also plan to bring onboard these sellers from Edo State on our CBN-licensed Fintech platform – KongaPay – to enable these beneficiaries enjoy the benefit of our lower transaction charges and other incentives,’’ he disclosed.
In attendance alongside the Edo State governor at the event was his wife, Betsy Obaseki; Konga Co-CEO, Imudia and other Management Executives of the e-commerce company; MD, BOI, Olukayode Pitan; Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq. and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, among others.
The event witnessed a tour of the Edo Production Hub, financed by the state government, which plays host to a number of SMEs and other businesses. In addition to unveiling the Edo Online Marketplace on Konga, the team also commissioned the new Bank of Industry Building in Benin City, the Edo State capital.