'Unified Payment Systems To Unlock Africa's 500 Million Digital Market’
Jumia Nigeria CEO Temidayo Ojo argues that harmonized payment systems and stronger consumer protection are vital to scaling Africa's digital economy. He emphasizes that building consumer trust is the primary hurdle for e-commerce adoption across the continent.
Why it matters
Standardizing digital payments and regulations could unlock a 500-million-person market, significantly boosting intra-African trade.
The chief executive officer of Jumia Nigeria, Temidayo Ojo, has identified harmonised payment systems as a critical enabler for unlocking Africa’s 500-million-person digital market, stressing that stronger consumer protection and closer collaboration between governments and the private sector are equally essential to accelerating e-commerce growth across the continent.
Speaking at the AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum 2026, Ojo said Africa’s digital economy has enormous potential, but fragmented payment systems, weak consumer confidence and inconsistent regulatory frameworks continue to limit cross-border online trade.
He noted that Jumia’s experience in Nigeria has shown that consumer trust remains the single most important factor driving e-commerce adoption, adding that millions of Nigerians have embraced online shopping, while significant opportunities still exist to bring many more consumers into the digital marketplace.
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