The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS,) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with five African multinational commercial banking groups for seamless cross-border trade payments.

The groups include Standard Bank Group, Access Bank Group, Ecobank Group, KCB Group, and UBA Group.

These significant partnerships aim to revolutionise the settlement of cross-border transactions across Africa, leveraging on the vast network of subsidiaries and representative offices across major economic centres across Africa.

These MOUs were signed on Monday, June 19, 2023, at the opening ceremony of Afreximbank’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations and 30th Annual Meetings held in Accra, Ghana, a statement by Brandcomms Agency said.

It was in the presence of Heads of State and Prime Ministers from Africa and the Caribbean, Heads of continental policy and governance institutions as well as international institutions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the platform will, for instance,  allow a business in Nigeria to trade with another in, perharps, Ghana, using the Naira and Cedi respectively.

Again, PAPSS makes cross-border payments easier, such that  transactions don’t take days or weeks to settle.

Transaction executed using PAPSS are expected to be secure, promote financial inclusion, and most importantly – unite Africa.

The signature of the MOUs signified a monumental step forward in the pursuit of seamless cross-border trade payments throughout the almost 40 countries covered by these Banks.

“The broad collaboration between PAPSS and African commercial banks will pave the way for enhanced efficiency, transparency, and reliability in intra-African settlement.

“ The adoption of PAPSS’s cutting-edge settlement model will streamline operations and empower businesses by providing a secure and technologically advanced platform for cross-border transactions,” the statement said.

As part of this partnership, Access Bank Group, Ecobank Group, KCB Group, Standard Bank Group, and UBA Group will collaborate closely with PAPSS to ensure seamless integration of PAPSS into their existing systems, it said.

This collaborative effort will include opening up all their African footprints for PAPSS.

Also,  facilitating settlement of transactions, encouraging the participation of Fintech in PAPSS via the banks and expanding PAPSS to all the banks’ current digital channels such as mobile app banking and e-banking.

Prof.  Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, commented.

“The signature of these MoUs marks a remarkable step towards the realisation of the aspirations of Africa’s fore leaders, who envisioned the creation of a payment and clearing union about six decades ago.

“ It also draws us closer to domesticating cross-border payments by enabling payments for cross-border trade in African currencies while strengthening African currencies.

“By leveraging on the vast continental coverage of these African commercial banks, PAPSS will seamlessly facilitate cross-border trade and payments and boost intra-African trade and investments”.

The Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, Mr Mike Ogbalu III, expressed enthusiasm about these collaborations.

“These partnerships with Access Bank Group, Ecobank Group, KCB Group, Standard Bank Group, and UBA Group mark a significant milestone in the journey toward a more integrated and efficient African banking landscape.

“ By embracing PAPSS’ Commercial Bank Settlement Model, these banks are helping build a robust continental platform for fostering cross-border payments, thereby paving the way for financial inclusion and substantial continental economic development.”

Also commenting on the signing was H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA.

“The introduction of the new PAPSS Model for onboarding African Commercial Banks and the signing of the MoUs with the five African Commercial Bank Groups signifies a bold step towards the full operationalisation of PAPSS.

“For the benefit of African traders and SMEs in the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MOUs will be put into effect gradually in partnership with central banks in the countries where the five Group Banks operate.

Customers of the banks in Africa will be informed through the usual channels of communication as soon as the service becomes available in their countries.

PAPSS and the banks will be working to make the service available toward the end of 2023. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Jumia, a leading pan-African e-commerce platform, has reiterated its commitment to driving economic growth through the expansion to secondary cities and rural areas to close the inequality gap.

Mr Massimiliano Spalazzi, the Chief Executive Officer, Jumia Nigeria, said this at the launch of its Rural Area Report titled: “E-Commerce in Rural Areas” on Tuesday, in Lagos.

According to him, the report highlights Jumia’s remarkable achievement in penetrating underserved regions and bringing e-commerce opportunities to overlooked populations.

Spalazzi added that the report showed the company’s dedication to driving sustainable growth, empowering communities, and closing inequality gaps across the continent.

He said that bridging the digital divide and empowering communities with access to a wide range of products and services through online platform was a testament to the company’s mission.

He stated that the company had adopted a two-pronged approach that allowed Jumia to rapidly extend its reach beyond major cities, bringing the convenience of online shopping to even the most remote areas of Nigeria.

The approaches, according to him, are Pick-Up Stations (PUS) and Jumia Force agents (JForce).

“We take immense pride in revolutionising shopping in the country, enabling SMEs to grow, and creating job opportunities for the youth.

“With an unwavering commitment to providing a comprehensive shopping solution, Jumia has successfully established a physical presence across the entire country, including remote areas, through its extensive network of 285 PUS in hundreds of towns.

“By collaborating closely with select logistics partners, Jumia has streamlined its supply chain operations, ensuring seamless delivery of products to these underserved markets,” he said.

Spalazzi explained that the pick-up stations were very convenient because they had been strategically placed at the closest location where customers reside, allowing them to pick their items with less delivery fee.

He added that the report underscored the important role played by JForce, a network of over 43,000 independent sales consultants, in educating consumers about Jumia’s offerings.

“They approach customers, identify their products needs, explain how to place their order on the Jumia app, and support the customer in the transaction till the items are delivered.

“Through localised and offline marketing channels, JForce introduces rural populations to the world of e-commerce, fostering growth and driving brand adoption.

“Jumia has become a catalyst for thousands of young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, offering them the opportunity to become their own bosses through e-commerce.

“These entrepreneurs earn commissions through sales on the Jumia platform, contributing to their economic empowerment.

“We have seen the growth potential in this approach and we look forward to expanding in the coming months,” he said.

Mr Robert Awodu, the Head of Public Relations and Communications, said that Jumia’s online marketplace provided an extensive selection of affordable products, with consumers stating competitive pricing as the major reason for shopping online.

Awodu, presenting the report, cited phones, beauty and perfumes, men’s clothing, furniture, bedding, and men’s shoes as the most demanded categories by consumers in secondary cities and rural areas in Nigeria, with phones being the most ordered communities.

He noted that the demand for accessible, innovative, and affordable online services across various sectors was on the rise, reflecting the evolving consumer preferences and lifestyle changes in the nation.

“Nigeria embraces a dynamic and youthful demographic, with a significant portion of the population comprising tech-savvy individuals eager to explore the benefits of online shopping.

“Recognising the potential impact of e-commerce on Nigeria’s economy, Jumia has adopted a two-pronged approach, utilising the JForce foot soldiers and Pick-up stations across the nation to meet the increasing demand of the populace,” he said.

Awodu added that Jumia’s platform had helped in areas of job creation, digital inclusion and women empowerment.

“Through the use of Jumia’s platform, people who previously had limited exposure to digital technologies can gain digital literacy skills, such as online shopping, online payments, and navigating e-commerce platforms.

“By promoting digital inclusion and literacy, Jumia helps bridge the digital divide and enables communities to fully participate in the benefits of the digital age.

The report also cited cities with the highest population outside Lagos to include Kano (4,103,000); Ibadan (3,565,000); Port-Harcourt (1,865,000) and Benin (1,782,000), with 47 per cent of the population residing in rural areas.

“Nigeria, as the largest oil producer in Africa, is home to a significant portion of its populace, with 47 per cent residing in rural areas, as reported by the World Bank in 2021.

“This makes rural areas a critical segment within the overall addressable market.

“Jumia’s presence now extends across more than 250 PUS located in several towns throughout the country, reaching even the remotest corners such as Modakeke, Ilaro, Offa, Uromi, Nkpor, Keffi and Owo town.

“Additionally, Jumia has a strong alliance with selected third-party logistics partners (3PLs) throughout the country, fostering a streamlined supply chain operations,” the report read in part. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma