Ekioja, a Nigerian e-e-commerce start-up has announced the launch of its online marketplace which will market and sell only products made in Nigeria. The e-commerce start-up which will go live on 4th March 2021, will begin by selling strictly made-in-Nigeria products, and promoting local businesses behind the products to its local and global audience, and will grow to list products and businesses made and operating in other African countries.
Ekioja’s CEO, Boston-based Destiny Oriakhi said, “The idea of Ekioja Marketplace came to me after observing the number of graduates that are empowered with hands-on skills as part of the SAED program during their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year. By my projections, each year, Nigeria would have over 90,000 highly skilled professionals across various sectors. Due to the lack of available white-collar and other fanciful jobs, these educated and skilled professionals will make a major block of the Nigerian production sector and contribute viably to the economy. Soon (as it is today), it will almost be commonplace to find graduates that are also skilled professionals producing high-quality products, ranging from clothing to shoes, to gift items, to mention a few.
“This group faces an enormous number of challenges, including the lack of functional business systems, a market ecosystem that is wholly dedicated to the Nigerian brand. This is why Ekioja exists: a marketplace for where you find STRICTLY made-in-Nigeria products and the brands behind them.”
He added that “the goal of Ekioja is to help these local businesses become global brands by marketing them to a brand-tailored local and global audience; and also, to rebuild the battered trust in Nigerian e-commerce by ensuring only vetted and trusted business are listed on the marketplace.”
Ekioja is determined to be more than just “an e-commerce site”. The platform will look to partner with listed businesses to create brand materials and promotional campaigns that will give these African businesses maximum exposure and showcase the talent and quality of African creators and producers.
About Ekioja: Ekioja is an online marketplace dedicated to promoting and selling products that are made in Africa and the brands behind them. Ekioja provides a safe, verified, and exclusive platform for buyers to meet makers of the best products from the streets of Africa and do business.