Kobo360 is a tech-enabled digital logistics platform that aggregates end-to-end haulage operations to help cargo owners, truck owners and drivers, and cargo recipients to achieve an efficient supply chain framework. Through an all-in-one robust logistics ecosystem, Kobo uses big data and technology to reduce logistics frictions, empowering rural farmers to earn more by reducing farm wastages and helping manufacturers of all sizes to find new markets. Kobo enables unprecedented efficiency and cost reduction in the supply chain, providing 360-visibility while delivering products of all sizes safely, on time and in full. The Kobo mission is to build the Global Logistics Operating System that will power trade and commerce across Africa and Emerging Markets.
A Federal court in Nigeria has nullified the “sale” of 9Mobile (nee Etisalat Nigeria). Nothing unusual here as I never really believed that 9Mobile was sold when litigants were running over one another with court-bullets as injunctions. That someone saw those injunctions, and yet released money, was a sign of total misunderstanding of the highly active court system in Nigeria. There is fraternity in the legal system in Nigeria: judges respect prior injunctions fanatically. That is why some governors are still being tried for cases that started in 2007, and at the current pace, the cases will finish when paper filing will be illegal in Nigeria!
The Federal High Court in Abuja has, in an April 1, 2019 ruling, set aside the sale of a major telecommunication firm, Etisalat International Nigeria Limited, now 9Mobile, to Teleology Nigeria Limited.
An enrolled order made by Justice Binta Nyako was sighted on Thursday.
The judge held that the steps taken in relation to the exchange of ownership of the company were in violation of subsisting court orders that parties to the pending suit should maintain status quo.
The court had by the orders restrained parties to the suit, involving investors and other shareholders in the company, from destroying the “res,” the subject matter in dispute in the suit.
No nation has any competitive #4 mobile carrier: two strong leading operators are typical. But in some cases, you can have a forceful #3. But anything beyond #3 is forgettable. Nigeria will not change that until we have billionaires who can buy English ball clubs just to tell their friends: “My boys will play tomorrow, come over to my booth”.
Yes, Teleology Holdings which received approval to take over the operations of 9mobile as the preferred bidder has pulled out of the deal. The Founder of Teleology Holdings Limited, Mr. Adrian Wood, the pioneer CEO of MTN Nigeria, released a statement, noting: “We now must stand down from further work on the 9mobile project.
My prediction remains that Glo will pick 9Mobile directly or indirectly. Indirectly means someone buys it and uploads into Glo.
The court’s ruling implies that actions concerning the company, including the processes taken by the National Communications Commission to resolve the dispute by selling over the company; are null and of no effect, since parties had been ordered to maintain status-quo from April 25, 2018.
In a reaction, however, the management of EMTS on Thursday denied the nullification by the FHC.
According to the company; the court only decided on the issue of locus standi. The statement was signed by the company’s legal adviser, Ore Orilade.
EMTS however noted that it would appeal the ruling.
“The Management of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd. (trading as 9mobile) is aware of the news publication being circulated on online news platforms that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the sale of EMTS to Teleology Nigeria Limited. EMTS hereby states that these news reports are incorrect, misleading, mischievous and a total falsehood.
“The Federal High Court, Abuja did not nullify the sale of EMTS; the court on 1st April 2019 made an order for parties to maintain status quo as at April 25, 2018. As at the said date, EMTS (9mobile) was not a party to the suit before the court. The action before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court is not about the sale of EMTS (9mobile) but rather, the transfer of the license even without locus standi.
“EMTS (9mobile) has however appealed the order and also sought an injunction pending appeal at the Court of Appeal,” the statement said
Qualcomm will showcase the capacity of 5G chipsets and antennas with a live 5G network, and a range of industrial IOT (IIOT) applications, at this week’s Hannover Messe, an industrial technology trade show in Hannover, Germany. It partnered with Bosch, Festo, Goething, IFAK, Siemens, Weidmueller and Zeiss to highlight various use cases for its 5G technology in IIOT solutions.
Qualcomm is showcasing 5G’s strongest industrial applications and has selected the most enterprise-ready applications of the technology to exhibit at Hannover. Some of the partnerships highlight how its technology is well suited for data transmission for robotics in large manufacturing plants because 5G offers increased bandwidth and data transmission rates as well as lower latency. An example of this is Goetting which will use Qualcomm’s 5G technologies to help teleoperate an autonomously guided vehicle, with low latency, which is important for high precision driving in tight factory settings.
With Qualcomm’s live demonstration of 5G technology, industry leaders will know that the technology is ready for large scale IIOT integration, the company hopes. Dedicated showcases of 5G enabled IIOT products and its potential applications will be a great selling point for larger enterprises. In crowded exhibition halls, fast upload and downloads of data. could convince decision makers of 5G’s high speed by making them visible beyond data points.
Apart from Qualcomm, US network provider Sprint has launched a 5G experience centre at its headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas which will help enterprise clients visualize the technology and its potential applications. With 5G, users can experience increased bandwidth and data transmission rates up to 10 times faster than 4G LTE and 5G networks will support up to 10 times more devices than 4G networks at connection node.
It is important for Nigerian telecommunication services providers like MTN, Globacom, 9 Mobile and Airtel to invest in 5G technology as countries like China, United States, South Korea with SK Telecom and Samsung collaborating to launch a nationwide rollout of the technology, are already deploying it to augment capabilities in critical sectors to enhance productivity and economic growth. Globally, 60 percent of IOT providers have plans to incorporate 5G technology into their products or services by 2023. This means that Nigeria needs to ensure we invest in this critical technology and have a clear 5G future, despite the paralysis experienced, in the 4G LTE era.
man paints colorful brush stroke in the air with magic brush, digital art style, illustration painting
There are uncontested markets and territories. Examine the free range-chicken. This bird does not compete for your time. Unlike dogs and cats, you practically do not invest so much time on free-range chickens. In the morning, they leave the house and in the evening, they return. They feed for themselves.
In business, we can be like chickens. That means we can find new markets and opportunities that may not have to compete with the present ones. In other words, we can find virgin areas where we can operate as monopolies because we have pioneered them. When such happens, you are not disrupting anyone even though you are growing revenue.
I want us to consider the need of creating new markets in Africa even when we are not disrupting any firm or sector. It is not always that one has to disrupt, but it is mandatory that one has to create, in order to find growth. My free-range chicken blossomed by finding its own paths and at the same time did not participate in any competition for my time. It used its creativity to survive and grow without disrupting (yes, disturbing) any person. Your company can be like it.
Look at the birds and find new markets. Yes, pioneer that future.
I have SUCH a directly related story to this, it blows me away. EASV (East African Social Ventures) looked into raising Kienyeji – the Swahili name for organic, free range chicken. We realized we’d be competing with small shareholder farmers and that we had a much better opportunity by working these small shareholder farmers. We’re now moving in the direction of mass-produced poultry, which doesn’t compete with the free range producers and by operating our own slaughterhouse and making it available to local small shareholder farmers, we’re able to provide much needed infrastructure and support for their operations.
They get access to safe, clean slaughterhouse and packaging facilities and access to large markets, we make a small amount of each bird, and the entire community is better off for working together. When you look at business opportunities through the dual mindsets of revenue production as well as community development, the possibilities are as endless as they are exciting.
Ecommerce continues its redesign in Nigeria and Africa. Jiji, the Nigeria-operating classified platform, through its principal investor, Digital Spring Ventures, has acquired OLX operations in Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda. OLX has been looking for exit since it closed full-scale operations in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
Jiji, Nigeria’s classifieds marketplace has reached an agreement with OLX to redirect OLX users in Nigeria to Jiji and to acquire OLX businesses in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The transaction is supported by one of Jiji’s principal investors, Digital Spring Ventures
The deal enables OLX users in these countries to benefit from Jiji’s products and services that have been ranked number one by Nigerian Android users for shopping. Jiji has over six million unique active users, and 50,000 professional sellers listing over one million items in a rapidly growing market of 200m people.
“We extend the warmest welcome to OLX’s users to Jiji and look forward to transforming the online retail experience in Africa as the region continues to transform itself economically and technologically. Jiji aims to provide its customers with the safest, most secure and enjoyable online shopping experience possible,” said Anton Volyansky, CEO and co-founder of Jiji.
In a statement released by Naspers, Sjoerd Nikkelen, the General Manager of OLX in Africa, Middle East and Asia notes: “We are proud of our achievements in Africa, and the sustainable businesses we have built in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. We continually evaluate our portfolio of classifieds businesses to ensure a disciplined approach to how and where we allocate capital and management time. With our focus on accelerating the growth of other markets, now is an opportune time to sell our interests in these markets. We are pleased that Jiji will continue to provide the exceptional quality of products and services that the customers in these countries have come to know and enjoy from OLX.”
Largely, while the real multi-vendor, multi-category ecommerce ecosystems like Konga and Jumia can be challenging due to the huge investment requirement, classified marketplace can be easier to manage with limited investments. So, Jiji may have a win here now that its major competitor has come home.
