Eki.digital, a Nigerian technological corporation, is getting ready for a significant relaunch in March 2026 with the goal of revolutionizing Africa’s involvement in global trade.
The company’s lofty objective is to establish the first “Global Trade Zone” in history, a digital marketplace that will link African companies with international consumers directly and boost the continent’s currently meager 3% global trade share.
The platform, which is owned by Eki Holdings, has relaunched after a purposeful lull during which its creator, Dr. Godwin Aigboviose Omage, redesigned and repositioned the product to better suit the needs of the post-pandemic digital economy.
In a statement that he personally signed, Dr. Omage called the impending relaunch “both strategic and necessary,” pointing out that it aligns with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to promote cross-border trade and integrate markets, as well as the growth in intra-African trade.
Omage claimed that Eki.digital was created as a response to a problem that was exclusive to Africa. “Access is what we lack, not talent on our continent. We can change Africa’s place in international trade by bringing entrepreneurs and purchasers together.
Rewriting Africa’s economic narrative is the clear goal behind the relaunch, according to Omage.
“African businesses have been ancillary to the global economy for decades,” he clarified. By offering a digital ecosystem that breaks down trade barriers, fosters trust, and opens up new markets, our goal is to change that. Eki.digital is a global hub for African innovation and business, not merely an online store.
Constructed as an all-inclusive “super app,” the redesigned platform unifies many services, such as digital services, e-commerce, job postings, and real estate, under a single digital roof.
Additionally, it will have an integrated digital wallet to facilitate safe and easy cross-border transactions, resolving one of the most enduring issues small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) on the continent confront.
Omage emphasized that the redesign’s primary goal was to address payment issues.
Receiving payments from overseas customers is one of the biggest challenges African SMEs face, he stated.
“That obstacle will be removed by our integrated wallet, enabling companies to conduct business with partners worldwide with confidence.”
Eki.digital intends to give new vendors a 10% sales bonus for their first three months on the platform in order to entice early adopters. Omage clarified that this is a component of a plan to promote adoption and foster trust.
He stated, “We want our vendors to feel supported from the beginning.” “The bonus is a sign of our commitment to their success and our belief in their potential.”
The platform’s name, “Eki,” which translates to “market” in the southern Nigerian Edo language, was purposefully chosen to serve as a reminder of Africa’s longstanding significance in international trade as well as a cultural emblem.
“African economies have always relied heavily on markets,” Omage said. “We’re honoring that legacy by redefining the marketplace for the digital age by naming our platform Eki.”
Industry watchers think the project might be a key instrument in Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy and lessen its reliance on oil earnings.
Eki.digital is a “bold example of private-sector innovation that extends beyond solving local problems,” according to technology consultant Chika Okoye.
Eki.digital is unique because it builds bridges to the global marketplace in addition to linking African buyers and merchants, according to Okoye. “The platform could greatly increase Africa’s visibility in global trade and empower thousands of SMEs if it is implemented successfully.”
By connecting African manufacturers with international consumers directly, the platform’s influence may also support the AfCFTA’s objective of removing trade obstacles throughout the continent.
Omage continued, “Our ultimate goal is to see African products everywhere—on store shelves, online, and in homes all over the world.” “Eki.digital connects talent with opportunity and supply with demand to realize that vision.”
If the project is successful, it might signal the beginning of a new wave of technical solutions led by Africans, proving the continent’s ability to spur economic change, encourage entrepreneurship, and reposition itself in the international economy.
