Glovo, others seek collaboration to boost small businesses

Glovo, a leading technology platform, and other stakeholders in the e-commerce ecosystem have called for stronger collaboration to promote inclusive growth for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and drive innovation across Nigeria’s e-commerce landscape. They made this submission at the second edition of Glovo’s flagship industry event, Future of Commerce Summit. Delivering his address, the […]

Glovo, a leading technology platform, and other stakeholders in the e-commerce ecosystem have called for stronger collaboration to promote inclusive growth for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and drive innovation across Nigeria’s e-commerce landscape.
They made this submission at the second edition of Glovo’s flagship industry event, Future of Commerce Summit.
Delivering his address, the President/Chairman of Council, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Engr. Leye Kupoluyi, represented by the Vice President of the Chamber, Engr. Opeyemi Aminu stated that the Nigerian economy is at a defining moment, with commerce being fundamentally reshaped by technology, data and connectivity.
According to him, 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.
The General Manager, Glovo Nigeria, Reni Onafeko, 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, the firm 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.

The Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr Charles Odii 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.

Represented by the Coordinator, Industrial Development Centre, Olusola Oluwole-Adeilupo, he 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.