Not many people know that before 8,500 BC the bow and arrow was invented independently in West Africa. Not many people know that West Africans invented face masks, built boats from wood, had inheritance laws, hire purchase systems (such as the iwofa system) and town planning. Not many people know that fishing by hook and line was invented in the Niger Congo. From this you get phrases like “hook, line & sinker”. An innovation from 8,500 BC travelled across time, Greek, Latin, French and into English, 10,500 years later. (Christoper Ehret, 2002).
Africans sailed across the atlantic with Sir Francis Drake and were some of his crew members when he circum-navigated the globe. One of the friends of Sir Francis Drake is considered Diego.
Chronometric age estimates and environmental information suggest West Africans were innovators of stone based tools. This is what the archaeology term ‘Stone Age’ relates to.
The talking drum could be used (before the invention of the telegraph, use of radio waves and fibre optic cables) to transmit messages 100km in 2 hours, through networks of villages.
Before 1500, Nigeria had roads, international trade, social organisation, military posts, henotheism, non-theism, polytheism, civil servants, aristocrats, work specialisation, international travel, innovation, science, technology, medicine, music, many languages and culture. Nothing has changed.
Sometimes we joke about African time or Nigerian time, but not many people know that Africa invented the solar calendar, lunar calendar, Sothic (astronomic) calendar based on the 1461 year cycle of Sirius, the Igbo calendar, Yoruba calendar, and Akan calendar. Although Nigeria uses 99% less electricity than the United States, its people are industrious, creative and you can already see that the world has benefitted from West African innovations.
Nothing has changed.
This article contains an A to Z of some impressive Nigerian startups and established businesses with information about their headquarters, business brief, and founder(s). This list of innovative businesses may interest investors, suppliers and job-seekers. We hope this article will prove to be helpful for our readers. Writing on these companies led us to a realization that the future is bright for Nigeria and that there are opportunities for other entrepreneurs to emerge.
Discovery outcomes:
- We hope you find companies to support
- We hope you find services you can buy
- We hope you find employers you can work for
- We hope you see that good businesses and integrity will always get investment!
A to Z:
ACE – Africa Courier Express
This startup company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. ACE is an emerging courier service that is focused on delivering logistics solutions to both businesses and consumers It was founded by Ercin Eksin and Tunde Kehinde.
Website: https://www.ace.ng/
Babban Gona
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is committed to delivering low-cost agriculture inputs, financial services and training to a franchise network of smallholder maize and rice farmers in the country of Nigeria. It was founded by Kola Masha.
Website: https://www.babbangona.com
Beloxxi
This company is based in Agbara, Ogun, Nigeria. Beloxxi is a leading distributor and importer of branded biscuits. It was founded by Obi Ezeude.
Website: https://beloxxigroup.com/bp/
Betensured
This startup company is based in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. Betensured is a football score and other sports prediction website and is the first football prediction company that works like stockbrokers in the stock exchange. It was founded by Adeniyi Omotayo.
Website: https://www.betensured.com
Bitmama
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is a crypto-fiat exchange that lets traders buy and sell top digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum in Africa. It was founded by Ruth Iselema.
Website: https://www.bitmama.io
BudgIT
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. BudgIT is civic organization that makes smart use of technology to intersect citizen engagement with institutional improvement hence, enhancing regional administration. It was founded by Joseph Agunbiade and Oluseun Onigbinde.
Website: https://yourbudgit.com/
BuyPower
This company is based in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. It is a utility payment platform in Nigeria that allows you to buy prepaid and postpaid meter units and pay your electricity bills online. It was founded by Ojima Benjamin Ufaruna.
Website: https://www.buypower.ng/
Cars45
This e-commerce company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Cars45 is an online portal where you can buy and sell pre-owned autos at the best rates in the region. It was founded by Etop Ikpe.
Website: https://www.cars45.com/
DealDey Limited
This company is based in Ilupeju, Ekiti, Nigeria. It has made daily life of the locals of Lagos city easier by featuring a daily deal on things to do, see, eat, and buy in the region. It was founded by Sim Shagaya.
Website: https://www.dealdey.com/
Delivery Science
This company is based in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. This organization is committed to helping large organizations get data from the field to manage and monitor their distribution assets. It was founded by Chuka Ofili, Lanre Oyedotun and Toyin Oshinowo.
Website: https://deliveryscience.co/
Enterprise Group
This company is based in Ghana and Nigeria. Enterprise Group is the first insurance company to be publicly listed in Ghana. It was founded in 1924.
Website: https://www.enterprisegroup.net.gh/group/modules/index.php
Farmcrowdy
This startup company based in Lagos, Nigeria, is an emerging digital agriculture platform that connects farm sponsors with real farmers thus, helping the country’s agriculture sector grow. It was founded by Akindele Phillips, Ifeanyi Anazodo, Jimoh Maiyegun, Onyeka Akumah, and Tope Omotolani.
Website: https://www.farmcrowdy.com/
Firstmonie
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. FirstBank has introduced an innovative product called Firstmonie Mobile Money Service, that enables customers to access financial and other value added services.
Website: https://www.firstmonieonline.com
Foodstock Farmers Market
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Foodstock Farmers Market is Nigeria’s largest online website which delivers fresh-farm produce to straight from the farm to our customers’ doorstep in wholesale and retail rates. It was founded by Omolere Omotayo.
Website: https://www.foodstock.com.ng
Gidi Mobile
This company is based in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. Gidimo is Africa’s mobile learning and personal advancement platform with a mobile application for easy learning and collaboration. It was founded by Adetunji Adegbesan, Chinedu Okafor, Dozie Anyaegbunam, and Olusegun Olukoya.
Website: https://www.gidimo.com
Gloo.ng
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is often referred to as Africa’s Biggest Online Supermarket where users can buy everything from grocery to home appliances. It was founded by Olumide Olusanya.
Website: https://gloo.ng
GoMyWay
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is a ride sharing service that connects private car owners with empty seats to passengers going the same way across Nigeria. It has focused on making transport easier for the people of Nigeria. It was founded by Damilola Teidi.
Website: https://gomyway.com/
Helium Health
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Helium Health is an innovative company that stores electronic medical records for Africa’s premier hospitals. It was founded by Adegoke Olubusi and Dimeji Sofowora.
Website: https://heliumhealthcare.com
Hotels.ng
Hotels.ng is based in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. It is an online travel agency specialising in hotel bookings within Nigeria. It was founded by Mark Essien.
Website: https://www.hotels.ng
IHS Towers
This impressive company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. IHS Towers is one of the largest mobile telecommunications infrastructure providers in Nigeria. It was founded by William Saad.
Website:https://ihstowers.com
Interswitch
This integrated digital payments and commerce company is focused on revolutionizing the arena of digital payments in Africa. It was founded by Mitchell Elegbe. Interswitch is based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Website:https://www.interswitchgroup.com
iROKO Partners
iROKO has introduced internet TV in Nigeria being the largest online platform where you can view Nollywood movies and TV serials. It was founded by Bastian Gotter and Jason Njoku. iROKO has its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.
Website: https://iroko.ng
Jumia Group
Jumia Group is a startup company based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is an online system of online commerce, marketplaces and classified ads websites and applications, making it easy for people to access and use these portals. It was founded by Jeremy Hodara and Sacha Poignonnec.
Website: https://group.jumia.com/
KiaKia
This company is based in Abuja, Nigeria. This is an emerging AI powered online marketplace for credit scoring and matching lenders with borrowers in real-time. It was founded by Chiemeziem Anyadike, Olajide Abiola, and Olajide Abiola.
Website: https://www.kiakia.co
Kobo360
This startup company based in Lagos, Nigeria, has revolutionized supply chain arena in South Africa by being Africa’s 1st SME friendly on-demand supply chain marketplace. It was founded by Ife Oyedele ll and Obi Ozor.
Website: https://www.kobo360.com
Konga Online Shopping
Konga Online Shopping is a startup based in Lagos, Nigeria. This online store has made it easier for locals to enjoy online shopping. Their website offers books, home appliances, mobile phones, groceries, and other essential household items. It was founded by Sim Shagaya.
Website: https://www.konga.com
Kudi
This startup company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Kudi is an emerging local financial service provider that focuses on providing access to electronic banking and financial services. It was founded by Adeyinka Adewale and Pelumi Aboluwarin.
Website: https://kudi.ai/
LifeBank
This company is based in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. It is committed to saving lifes in Nigeria by making blood available everywhere at anytime. It was founded by Temie Giwa Tubosun.
Website: https://www.lifebank.ng
LEKOIL LTD
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. An Africa focused oil and gas exploration and production company, Lekoil Ltd. has been working within Nigeria and Namibia for a long period of time. It was founded by Olalekan Akinyanmi.
Website: https://www.lekoil.com
Lidya
This startup company based in Lagos, Nigeria, is focused on accessible financial services through its online platform that helps African businesses and individuals to open an account, manage funds, and access credit from anywhere at anytime. This startup has revolutionized financial management in the country. It was founded by Ercin Eksin and Tunde Kehinde.
Website: https://www.lidya.co/
Livestock Feeds PLC
This company is based in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Livestock Feeds is functioning in Nigeria as a sub-group of Pfizer running the company’s pharmaceutical business in the region.
Website: https://www.livestockfeedsplc.com
LUCY.NG
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Lucy is a Nigerian e-commerce website, focused on wholesale and retail technology services providing B2C and B2B sales of branded merchandise via web portals. It was founded by Luther Lawoyin.
Website: https://lucy.ng/
MainOne
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. This firm provides wholesale telecommunication-bandwidth services and land cables for telecom operators and internet service providers hence, functions as a leading telecommunication company in the region. It was founded by Olufunke Olayemi Opeke.
Website: https://www.mainonecable.com
Microtraction
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Microtraction is focused on investing in Africa’s most remarkable teams with founders who are technically sound at the initial stages of their venture. It was founded by Yele Bademosi.
Website: https://www.microtraction.com/
MAX – Metro Africa Express
MAX is a courier service committed to resolve last-mile delivery and online-retail problems in the region of Africa. It was founded by Adetayo Bamiduro and Chinedu Azodoh. MAX is based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Website:https://www.max.ng
Mobile Forms
This company is based in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. It is an online platform for African businesses, NGOs and Governments to crowdsource reliable market data for their corporate or public welfare use. It was founded by Damilola Ayorinde and Oluwatomi Ayorinde.
Website:https://mobileforms.co
myPadi
This company is based in Abuja, Nigeria. The locals use it for finding off-campus hostels and roommates. It was founded by Joel Amawhe.
Website: https://mypadi.ng
Nigerian Nation
Nigerian Nation is a startup based in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. The company has made online trading easier by establishing online marketplaces for both international and domestic trade. It was founded by John Aghadiuno.
Website: https://www.nigeriannation.com
One Credit
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is a leading online consumer lending business in Nigeria. It was founded by Ngozi Dozie.
Website: https://www.one-cred.com
One Finance and Investments Limited
This startup company based in Lagos, Nigeria, provides quick small loans to the financially underserved mass retail segment via their mobile application called “Paylater”. It was founded by Chijioke Dozie and Ngozi Dozie.
Website: https://www.paylater.ng
Paga
Paga is a startup company based in Lagos, Nigeria. This startup has revolutionized the scene of digital payments as it allows to send money, pay bills and receive payments easily from your mobile. It was founded by Jay Alabraba and Tayo Oviosu.
Website: https://www.mypaga.com
Paystack
This startup company is based in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. This company has made transactions easier for businesses as it lets them accept payments through credit card, debit card, money transfer and mobile money on their websites or mobile apps. It was founded by Ezra Olubi and Shola Akinlade.
Website: https://www.paystack.com
Printivo
This company is based in Somolu, Lagos, Nigeria. Emerging as a growing startup company, it provides efficient printing expertise, wide range of design templates and the reach of the internet. It was founded by Ayodeji Adeogun, Ibukun Oloyede and Oluyomi Ojo.
Website:https://www.printivo.com
PropertyPro Nigeria
This real estate company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It operates the region’s most widely used online real estate portal where people can buy, sell and rent properties easily. It was founded by Dapo Eludire, Fikayo Ogundipe, Muyiwa KOLAWOLE, Seyi Ayeni and Sulaiman Balogun.
Website: https://www.propertypro.ng
Purple Capital Partners
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. This capital firm is revolutionizing the investment arena as it offers a range of alternative investment opportunities for itself, institutional and private investors. It was founded by Obinna Onunkwo and Olaide Agboola.
Website: https://www.purplecapng.com/
Rensource Energy
This startup company is based in Nigeria, Africa. Rensource Energy is a fast-growing distributed energy company focused on providing solar energy solutions to consumers and SMEs across Nigeria and West Africa. It was founded by Ademola Adesina and Jussi Savukoski.
Website: https://www.rensource.energy
Sigma Pensions
This company is based in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Sigma Pensions is a pension fund administration platform operating in Nigeria. It was founded by Umaru Modibbo.
Website: https://www.sigmapensions.com/
SpacePointe
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. global payments technology company focused on digitalizing the formal and informal sectors in Africa. It was founded by Sayu Abend.
Website: https://spacepointe.com/
Sujimoto Construction
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is Nigeria’s one of the largest real estate and construction companies focused on transforming Nigeria and Africa’s Real Estate Market. It was founded by Sijibomi Ogundele and Yazeed Mohammad AlRahji.
Website: https://sujimotonig.com/
SureGifts
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. This startup has developed a system that empowers employees and customers with rewards. It was founded by Adeoye Ojo, Babafemi Lawal and Olaoluwa Samuel-Biyi.
Website: https://business.suregifts.com.ng/
TalentBase
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is an affordable payroll solution enabling African SMEs to simplify and organize their HR processes. It was founded by Chika Uwazie.
Website: https://talentbase.ng
Terragon Group
This startup company is based in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. Terragon Group is a digital media business focused on most of the countries in Africa. It was founded by Elo Umeh.
Website: https://www.terragongroup.com/
Tizeti
Tizeti is a leading internet service provider providing broadband internet services to densely populated urban centers across many countries in Africa. It was founded by Ifeanyi Okonkwo and Kendall Ananyi. Tizeti is based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Website:https://www.tizeti.com/
TopCheck
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. TopCheck is the pioneer in designing a platform that is used for comparing financial services like insurance, credit cards or loans. It was founded by Christian Wiesner, Jose Figueiredo, Maciej Taranienko and Thomas v. Pilar.
Website: https://topcheck.com.ng
Touchabl Pictures
This company is based in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is an innovative mobile application which lets the users use their fingertip and touching stuffs inside a picture to instantly know what’s in there. It was founded by Chukwuemeka Ihedoro, Gabriel Eze, and Peter Chibunna.
Website: https://about.touchabl.com
TradeDepot
This startup company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. TradeDepot is an innovative SaaS platform for FMCG distribution in Africa. It was founded by Onyekachi Izukanne.
Website: https://www.tradedepot.co
Travelbeta
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is an online travel agency providing flights to over 900 destinations and with over 300,000 hotels on their website. It was founded by David Asuku, Onyeka Akumah and Wale Ayorinde.
Website: https://www.travelbeta.com
Tuteria
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. It is an e-learning startup that helps people learn various skills by finding and booking lessons with verified teachers from across the country. It was founded by Godwin Benson and Oyeniyi Abiola.
Website: https://www.tuteria.com
Venture Garden Group
Venture Garden Group is a holding company for a group of financial technology entities operating in Africa. It is currently being managed by CEO Bunmi Akinyemiju. Venture Garden is run from Lagos, Nigeria.
Website:https://venturegardengroup.com/
wifi.com.ng
This startup company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Wifi.com is an internet service provider with unlimited wifi internet services across Nigeria. It was founded by Ifeanyi Okonkwo and Kendall Ananyi.
Website: https://wifi.com.ng
Zinox Technologies
This startup company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Zinox Technologies is an ICT Company dedicated to providing innovative products and solutions. It was founded by LeoStan Ekeh.
Website: https://www.zinoxtechnologies.com/
Zowasel.com
This company is based in Lagos, Nigeria. Zowasel is solving the problems of high cost of lending and low access to institutional finance to smallholder farmers across Africa. It was founded by Jerry Oche.
Website: https://zowasel.com
We hope that you found this article helpful as per your interests. We will keep playing our role to support the growing entrepreneurship and business culture in the region of Nigeria. Do give us your remarks about this article!
Please comment if we have missed any innovative Nigerian companies.