The outgoing year has been an impressive one for Nigerian start-ups as they showed doggedness in their quest to solve societal problems.
As a result, they made impressive innovations this year. Start-Up-Digest looks at some of the major innovations.
Gokada
The terrible traffic gridlock in the metropolitan city of Lagos has made movement difficult. To alleviate the plight of residents, Gokada came to the rescue.
Gokada has now become a startup that helps Lagosians beat traffic and as a result save their valuable time.
It is an on-demand motorbike hailing service focused on changing the face of transportation in Nigeria by leveraging technology to connect users to the nearest motorbikes within their area, thereby helping them move smartly while beating traffic.
It has redefined the popular ‘Okada’ business by introducing technology into it.
Gokada drivers are cautious, verified, experienced and well-trained. They all pass through the Gokada Driver Training School and are re-taught how to properly drive around the streets of Lagos, safely, with passengers.
In their quest to change the face of transportation in Nigeria and subsequently Africa, Gokada has introduced over 5,000 motorcycles to set off a new wave of ride-hailing prosperity in Nigeria.
Gokada was founded in June 2017 by Nigerian entrepreneur Deji Oduntan. The service was launched originally and started operations in Yaba axis of Lagos state and has extended their operations across Lagos.
Kitovu
Nigeria’s agricultural sector has continued to suffer owing to the inability of the government to find lasting solutions to challenges that have limited farmers’ productivity.
Some of these challenges include: high rate of post-harvest losses for fruits and vegetables, low yield per hectare, and inadequate market access for farm produce.
To address this, Kitovu has devised a geo-location technology that matches crops with the right soil types to increase farmers’ yields per hectare.
Kitovu’s soil tests are affordable for farmers and have helped to considerably boost their yields per hectare.
The startup also developed a service called eProcure that connects farmers directly to buyers for their farm produce.
The eProcure is like an inventory management system, with an algorithm that guarantees delivery of high quality produce when and where you need it.
This has helped remove the middle men from the distribution chain.
The success of these took Kitovu’s innovations to about 3,000 farmers, and has opened the doors to further growth possibilities of Africa’s $100 billion agro-sector.
Kobo360
Despite the huge infrastructural gaps, Kobo360 is making impressive waves in the Nigerian logistics business.
Kobo360 is a tech-enabled digital logistics platform that aggregates end-to-end haulage operations to help cargo owners, truck owners and drivers, as well as cargo recipients to achieve an efficient supply chain framework.
The start-up has an Uber -like app that connects Nigerian truckers to companies with freight needs. It uses the app to pay drivers online immediately after successful hauls.
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.
The start-up has refused to be intimidated by heavyweights such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL and has invested heavily in the haulage business.
The logistic start-up has been accepted into Y Combinator’s 2018 cohort, having raised $1.2 million. Kobo360 was founded by Obi Ozor.
BathKandy
Though this firm was founded in 2014 by Blondie Okpuzor, it has major innovations this year.
It is a beauty company that creates dessert-inspired beauty treats. This year, it came up with 50 different types of soap, using raw materials such as goat milk, scrubs made from garri, coffee and chocolates, in making them.
This year, she also produced soap from jollof rice.
“We are using local ingredients to make them. We have found that there are a lot of natural things that are there for you, but if you don’t know or use them, then you don’t get the benefits. So, we merge science with arts,” she told Start-Up Digest.
Wella Health
WellaHealth introduced an innovative malaria testing service to the public at an affordable rate. Through its e-health app platform, people with malaria symptoms can book a test and treatment online.
The booking allows them access to nearby laboratory centres for test and treatment.
Nigeria’s malaria incidences accounts for 27 percent of 216 million global cases.
With this initiative, Nigeria’s malaria cases will be drastically reduced.
Josephine Okojie
