Glovo, stakeholders push unified digital strategy to unlock SMB growth in Nigeria
Glovo and other players in Nigeria’s e-commerce sector have called for stronger public and private sector collaboration to support small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and deepen innovation across the country’s fast-growing digital commerce space.
Glovo and other players in Nigeria’s e-commerce sector have called for stronger public and private sector collaboration to support small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and deepen innovation across the country’s fast-growing digital commerce space.
The call was made at the second edition of the Future of Commerce Summit held at the Landmark Events Centre in Lagos, where policymakers, entrepreneurs and technology executives gathered to discuss the future of trade in Africa’s largest economy.
Speakers said Nigeria’s commerce landscape is undergoing a structural shift, driven by digital platforms, data and connectivity, which are reshaping how businesses operate and how consumers engage. They noted that while opportunities are expanding, collaboration is needed to ensure smaller businesses are not left behind.
Leye Kupoluyi, the president/chairman of council, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represented by Opeyemi Aminu, the vice president of the Chamber, said that the Nigerian economy is at a defining moment, with commerce being fundamentally reshaped by technology, data and connectivity.
According to Kupoluyi, commerce is moving beyond physical boundaries into an intelligent, platform-driven ecosystem that is transforming how businesses operate and how consumers engage, while creating value across markets.
Reni Onafeko, general manager, Glovo Nigeria, said the summit reinforces the company’s role as a growth enabler for SMBs by helping businesses transition into the digital economy while unlocking new revenue streams and opportunities.
Onafeko added that by fostering collaboration across sectors, Glovo is contributing to the development of a more resilient and inclusive commerce ecosystem in Nigeria. She noted that the company remains focused on building the largest on-demand multi-category platform to help create an economy where partners can lead and thrive.
“Future of Commerce 2.0 reflects our commitment to building a more inclusive and innovation-driven commerce ecosystem in Nigeria. At Glovo, we are focused on empowering SMBs with the tools, technology and access they need to grow, scale, and compete effectively in a rapidly evolving digital economy. By fostering collaboration across the public and private sectors, we are creating opportunities that drive sustainable growth and long-term impact,” she said.
In his own remarks, Charles Odii, the director general/chief executive officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), represented by Olusola Oluwole-Adeilupo, the coordinator, Industrial Development Centre, said the on-demand economy, represented by platforms, logistics networks and digital payment systems such as Glovo, is no longer a niche disruption but the new architecture of trade.
Commending Glovo for convening the landmark gathering for the second consecutive year, Odii said the summit’s continuity reflects a sustained investment in the vision of a thriving, digitally enabled commerce ecosystem in Nigeria, rather than a seasonal campaign.
He noted that although businesses constitute the backbone of the Nigerian economy, they continue to face structural challenges, including limited access to finance, constrained market reach, low technological adoption and insufficient integration into the formal digital economy.
Industry leaders at the event highlighted the role of artificial intelligence, automation and logistics infrastructure in shaping the next phase of commerce, while also stressing the need for policies that support innovation.
The summit featured panel discussions on infrastructure, AI adoption and profitability in the food business, alongside sessions on consumer behaviour and global commerce trends.
Analysts say Nigeria’s e-commerce sector is entering a more competitive phase, where scale, efficiency and collaboration will determine which businesses succeed, especially as digital adoption continues to rise among consumers.
