This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
November 8, 2019
Halidu Ismail Obaje, a dispatch rider for Jumia, Africa's largest e-commerce firm, navigates through the congested streets of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub, to deliver packages to customers.
With over 700 dispatch riders operating in the city, Jumia has carved a niche for itself in e-commerce and logistics service delivery, connecting Africans with each other and bringing consumer goods and services to all.
Founded in 2012, Jumia started as a collective effort of its founding team who aimed to create something new and positive, building an ecosystem around e-commerce.
"We were seeing e-commerce becoming so big everywhere," said Sacha Poignonnec, a co-founder of Jumia, referring to the thoughts that pre-formed the coming of the firm between 2008 and 2009.
"So we started with the idea to bring e-commerce to Africa. What we had on our minds were the usual questions: If you are thinking of commerce, you need products, sellers, consumers, logistics and you need payment," Poignonnec added.
Today, Jumia has expanded its operations to 14 countries in Africa, covering about 700 million people, and has become a household name in e-commerce and logistics service delivery.
The firm's operation has expanded over the years as the figure of consumers continues to rise, with Jumia creating not just a link, but also a value for the consumers and sellers.
"We have various partners that we work with in terms of customs clearance. We follow the rules, otherwise, they would not be cleared. Our logistics platform is a collection of every possible logistics service that can ever happen in Nigeria," said Tolu George-Yanwah, head of Jumia's logistics service department.
With over 100 pickup stations and hubs in Nigeria, Jumia has established a strong presence in the country, handling over 14 million packages across Africa and creating a niche for itself in e-commerce and logistics service delivery.
