Nigerian tech platform relaunches, targets Africa’s share of global trade

A Nigerian digital marketplace, Eki.digital, is set to officially launch in March 2026, positioning itself as the world’s first “Global Trade Zone.”  The platform aims to connect African businesses with international buyers, significantly boosting the continent’s currently low share of global commerce. The company, a subsidiary of Eki Holdings, announced its grand relaunch after a […]

A Nigerian digital marketplace, Eki.digital, is set to officially launch in March 2026, positioning itself as the world’s first “Global Trade Zone.” 

The platform aims to connect African businesses with international buyers, significantly boosting the continent’s currently low share of global commerce.

The company, a subsidiary of Eki Holdings, announced its grand relaunch after a break, which its founder, Dr. Godwin Aigboviose Omage, used to refine the platform for the post-pandemic digital economy.

While e-commerce adoption has accelerated globally, Africa’s contribution to worldwide trade remains below 3 per cent. Dr. Omage believes this is not due to a lack of talent but a lack of access to a global market.

In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, Dr, Omage said the platform’s relaunch is timely, coinciding with the rise of intra-African trade and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is establishing a unified market for digital goods and services.

According to him, Eki.digital is designed to align with this vision, offering a homegrown solution to a continent-wide challenge. By empowering local entrepreneurs to sell globally, the platform is expected to help Nigeria and other African nations increase their revenue from international commerce, he added.

Eki.digital is a comprehensive, multi-category “super app” that integrates retail, services, jobs, and real estate. It features a built-in digital wallet for secure cross-border payments, addressing a key barrier for many small and medium-sized African businesses. The platform also offers incentives for new vendors, including a 10 per cent bonus on sales for the first three months.

The name “Eki” itself holds deep significance, meaning “market” in the Edo language of Nigeria. The platform’s founder says this name is a deliberate nod to Africa’s rich history of trade and aims to carry that legacy into the digital age.