Kano State Unveils eCommerce Project

THISDAY 

By Emma Okonji

Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Emir of Kano State, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II and other Northern leaders, gathered at the government house in Kano to unveil the state’s eCommerce project, which marked a turning point in the history of commerce in Kano state and the Northern region.

Launched in collaboration with eTranzact International, provider of mobile banking and payments services, and Bizi Mobile, the Kano State eCommerce business improvement and empowerment project is a dream of the present administration.

eTranzact, which facilitates mobile banking services of 11 banks through its mobile switching platform, processes over N1 trillion every year, will be providing technology and business services that will serve as  an avenue for active participation of the private sector in economic development, create new job opportunities, empower the citizens and alleviate poverty in Kano state and northern Nigeria.

The project will kick off with the registration of all traders in Kano State at all levels, identifying their type of business, products, among others. Next phase will see a gradual migration of traders to e-commerce in line with State Government's drive to be the leading electronic payment/transaction State, to align with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless Policy initiatives.
In order to ensure that the project continues after the exit of the present administration, the governor announced that an edict of law in the state; Law No. 4 of 2014, mandates every trader to register his/her business in the state. 

An electronic trader’s ID Card from the eTranzact team was also unveiled and certified by the governor at the event. The ID Card will be compulsory for all traders and businesses in the state, and will also serve as a transaction card duly accepted on Point of Sales (POS), Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and the internet, and a companion for a Kano state customised version of eTranzact’s mobile money solution, PocketMoni.

Speaking at the unveiling of the project, the Emir of Kano said; “Education and health are the key areas that every responsible government should pay attention to, and inadequate focus on these sectors is responsible for the current security and economic challenges facing the country."

The emir, therefore, lauded the Kwankwaso-led administration for embarking on employment generation and infrastructural development programmes, assuring that the Kano Emirate Council will continue to work hand-in-hand with the government to achieve the set goals.

Kwankwaso, in his speech, explained that the biometric identity card was introduced for all business operators in Kano to enhance security, provide government with a database on business operators and enable traders to migrate to e-commerce, in line with best practices in the global business environment. In this regard, he appealed to business enterprises and individuals operating in the state to cooperate with the state government on the project, in view of its importance to trade, investment and financial inclusion objectives of the state government.

Also speaking on the project, Executive Director, Business Development,  eTranzact,  Mr. Sullivan Akala, said: “eTranzact is at the forefront of technological innovation in commerce and business, and we are proud to be able to offer our expertise and solutions to the government and good people of Kano state. Our key value proposition is the provision of a robust e-payment platform/service that cuts across the Web, POS, Cards and Mobile payments."

He added, "We have been working on this unique solution for all level of government and businesses for a while, and we congratulate the Kano state government for being among the first set of states to come on board the initiative, setting the pace for other states that will be rolling out customized versions of the solution.”