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Product Comparism

How The Emergence Of E-commerce Has Affected The Traditional Trading System.

by Viola Echere August 30, 2022

written by Viola Echere

Following its origin from the trade by barter system to the development of a market place, trading has since evolved from the traditional mode of buying and selling which involved one going to the market place or wherever the location of acquiring the said goods and services are to buying and selling digitally or through electronic mediums which we know as e-commerce.

As the use of tech at both financial and social level became popular so did buying and selling online. This has affected not just the sellers but also the buyers with its ability to bridge the gap in geographical barriers making it possible for buying and selling to take place from anywhere across the world.

Without disregarding the traditional mode of buying and selling which still has an impact and plays a major role in the trading system, it is important to note that the convenience and ease which e-commerce provides has encouraged lots of business owners and SMEs to jump on selling through e-commerce platforms and rely heavily on digital media completely changing the ball game of trading.

It would seem easier to streamline the difference between these two but for the purpose of this article, we would be discussing how e-commerce has affected traditional mode of buying and selling

Let’s get on shall we !

Convenience and ease

Convenience was what fueled the new developments as e-commerce platforms were created to make it easy for sellers to set up stores online for their businesses and give buyers the ability to choose from a variety of products and services to shop at the comfort of their space.

With People facing hectic work schedules on a daily basis and stress that comes with life generally, they will jump at every opportunity to make their life easier and online shopping takes away most of the stress, especially having to navigate through cities searching for stores or shops to buy from.

The convenience function of e-commerce has completely changed the narrative of buying and selling traditionally where the exchange of goods and services can only take place during work hours.

E-commerce offers the convenience of purchasing items wherever and whenever the need arises. Buyers can stay in the comfort of their homes, place an order, make payments through their preferred method with their phones and have it delivered to their doorstep. E-commerce also has the 24/7 availability advantage which makes it easier for consumers to reach out anytime.

Visibility

Visibility is another unbeatable function of e-commerce. The traditional trading system survived on word of mouth or people simply discovering you exist with a visit to make purchases.

The emergence of ecommerce gave business owners control in terms of visibility. As an e-commerce business owner, the world is yours because the world is online and they are exposed to every business that exists online. This gives you the ability to sell your product anywhere in the world and reach a large audience.

E-commerce offers the opportunity to increase your outreach. With good SEO optimization, your business will rank first when a search is carried out. You can stay anywhere in the world and business will have a global reach.

There are lots of businesses that still get advertised through word of mouth but in today’s world most people would first of all check out the businesses online even after getting the information and this makes online business stand a better chance of getting more clients. This is the reason businesses today are clamoring for a spot in the digital space.

Low cost and ease of setup

The e-commerce platform also gives sellers opportunities to sell and set up businesses because of its low cost provision. Today we have lots of thriving online businesses that didn’t need much expenditure or physical space in terms of set up.

With e-commerce, it is easy to set up a business as you do not need to purchase or rent a physical space. Apart from the rental cost, the cost of running an e-commerce business is reasonably cheap and you do not need to spend much on electricity, diesel or other things that keep a brick-and-mortar store running.

Setting up an e-commerce website is quite easy. Once you have planned out your product and services and researched the market, you can contact a good software company to help set up the website.

Engaging the services of a professional is not compulsory, a simple Youtube tutorial on setting up e-commerce will do the trick.

Customer Insight

E-commerce offers customers the opportunity to give feedback and reviews on products and services.

It could be a form of comments or star rating that customers that have been in contact with your services drop on your e-commerce website. E-commerce is your best bet at knowing what your customers are saying or thinking about your business.

These reviews can help you as a business owner improve your product and services thereby increasing customer satisfaction and also helping existing and potential customers make buying decisions.

Flexibility

The flexible function of e-commerce is you being able to reach customers whenever, wherever across any device or touchpoint. There’s also the fact that you can run your business from anywhere across the world if this fact doesn’t make e-commerce superb, I don’t know what else is.

Though in the past and even in recent times, there have been a few complaints that what you order for is not usually what you get compared to buying from physical stores where you actually get what you want and it is due to this that lots of online businesses are improving their businesses on a daily basis so as to fulfill the desires of their target audience.

More business opportunities

There are various spinoff businesses from e-commerce. It is a great opportunity to have other businesses running on the side apart from people just shopping on your website.

E-commerce owners can offer logistics services where they deliver goods to people and get paid. they can also offer warehouse services, make money through adverts other businesses place on the website or ad sense google places on the website.

The opportunity is endless, you can decide to put out useful content on your websites like product reviews, product comparisons, or shopping tips and while at it, drive traffic to your sites and earn cool money.

A large market

With e-commerce, you have a large market to pull from. Anyone with internet access has access to your business compared to the physical stores where it is only people within your reach that know your business exists.

Your e-commerce site is a great marketing tool and it also offers the opportunity to broaden your product range, expand your business and in the process increase reach and bring in more customers.

Generally, the emergence of ecommerce in the trading system has stepped up the process of buying and selling because it opened doors to endless possibilities and created a pool of opportunities for business owners.

Due to its convenience, ease and low cost, it encouraged lots of entrepreneurs to start up businesses.

Today, There are lots of businesses online and this continues to create room for development and economic growth.

ALSO READ: Commercial banks vs fintech: The Ideal banking services for individuals and small businesses.

August 30, 2022 0 comment

Business Education INVESTMENT Product Comparism Transportation & Logisitics

Government Launches Kenya’s ETrade Readiness Assessment

by Radarr Africa June 22, 2022

written by Radarr Africa

The government is developing a national e-commerce Strategy (ECS) to boost Kenya’s economic opportunities that are supportive of the country’s strategic goals and Vision 2030.

Industrialization, Trade, and Enterprise Development CS Betty Maina said the State is cognizant that e-commerce that is driven by enhanced digital skills and innovative entrepreneurs is the foundation of economic growth.

She said businesses and individuals in the country need to prepare to reap the benefits of e-commerce presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) trade pact, which offers an estimated market base of over 1.2 billion people.

“Historically, the country‘s export has been relying on narrow products and export destinations. E-Commerce will therefore be critical in steering the country to increase its products exports and expand export destinations,” said Maina.

She said that the government will continue to encourage innovation and investment in last mile delivery to encourage e-commerce activities.

The CS was speaking on Tuesday during the national launch of the Kenya e-Trade and Readiness Assessment at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete, Nairobi which highlights the importance of continuous innovations and e-commerce for domestic and regional trade.

The report also indicates that Kenya is one of the leading countries on the African Continent in E-commerce, with combined revenues expected to hit USD3.6 billion by the end of 2022, which she said is driven by the robust investments by the government in digital infrastructure among them increased internet adoption, uptake of digital devices and mobile money innovations.

She, however, noted that despite the strides the county has made in adapting e-commerce, the digital divide remains an issue since it is still an urban area phenomenon.

“According to the 20^th Edition of the Kenya Economic Update: securing future growth, 44 percent of the urban population have access to the internet as compared to 17 percent in rural areas,”said Maina.

The CS reiterated that for all Kenyans to benefit from e-commerce there is a need for scaling up digital skills and continuous improvement of road infrastructure for more effective and efficient transportation of goods.

She added that players in e-commerce were experiencing challenges in transporting goods from their stores to customers since customers were not willing to incur more transport costs.

“The cost of delivering products, especially in the rural area is still higher and is slowing down the growth of e-commerce’ Maina said.

The CS at the same time announced that the country is in the process of developing a National Addressing Framework which will provide a legal framework for the establishment and implementation of a cohesive and integrated national addressing system to boost the uptake and growth of e-commerce.

She, however, noted that the benefits of e-commerce can be hampered by a lack of trust and transparency amongst sector players who agree on mutual argument while conducting transactions online and flooding markets with counterfeit products and urged relevant players to build trust in their transactions.

The CS stated that the government is consolidating efforts to put in place and implement strategies and policies which ensure consumer data protection, intellectual property rights protection, and cybersecurity protection to encourage entrepreneurs and consumers to engage in e-commerce activities.

In her remarks Broadcasting and Telecommunication Principal Secretary Esther Koimett in a speech read on her behalf by Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Secretary of Adminstration Juliana Yiapan thanked the United Nations Conference on Trade Development (UNCTAD) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) for financing and technical support towards the development of the national e-commerce strategy.

The PS said the report is vital as it will provide a basic analysis of the current e-commerce situation in the country, as well identify opportunities and barriers.

Koimett said Kenya has made substantial investments in ICT infrastructure that is essential for the growth of e-commerce in the areas of digital connectivity, data infrastructure and electricity connections which she attributed to the growth in mobile and broadband subscriptions, increased digitization of public services and improved international internet bandwidth.

The PS however, noted that despite the improvement in infrastructure the country still grapples with low uptake of digital devices, gaps in mobile network coverage and last-mile broadband connectivity, inadequate access to reliable and affordable electricity, as wells as high costs of data and essential infrastructure hardware which she said hamper increase of e-commerce adoption.

“ The government is aware of the glaring digital skills deficit in the country and has put in place policy measures to address them by mainstreaming ICT at all levels of education, as highlighted in the National ICT Strategy for Education and Training and Vision 2030 policy document,” said Koimett.

She assured that her ministry will oversee and coordinate the implementation of recommendations to the report that will guide in the development of a national e-commerce strategy.

The e-Trade Readiness Assessment report has provided an overview of the current e-commerce ecosystem in Kenya and identifies opportunities and barriers in seven policy areas which include commerce readiness and strategy formulation, ICT infrastructure and services, trade logistics and trade facilitation, payment solutions, legal and regulatory frameworks, e-commerce skills development and access to financing.

SOURCES: Capital business

ALSO READ: NCC signs PPP agreement with its consultant 3R Ltd for revenue assurance solutions

June 22, 2022 0 comment

Economy INVESTMENT Product Comparism Technology Telecommunications Uncategorized

Competition Agency Secures Release Of Sh38mn For SMEs Shortchanged By Insurers

by Radarr Africa June 21, 2022

written by Radarr Africa

The Competition Authority of Kenya says it has facilitated the release of Sh38 million to 20 motor repairers and 18 motor vehicle assessors who were shortchanged by 18 major insurance companies.

CAK secured Sh30 million in financial 2021/22 an increase from the Sh8million recovered during the FY2020/21.

During a media briefing held on Tuesday, Priscillah Njako, CAK manager in charge of the Buyer power department indicated that through the exercise, the authority salvaged over 1,000 jobs and operations of businesses that were owed for services rendered and completed up to five years ago.

The names of the insurance companies were not revealed as the authority noted it was concluding other complaints received by other similar businesses.

Njako decried that there had been increased cases of large businesses failing to honor agreement terms with their suppliers, mainly SMEs with the belief that the suppliers do not have legal recourse.

“Such actions place thousands of livelihoods at risk since their sources of income come under unbearable and unjustifiable financial strain. Big businesses are therefore reminded of their obligation to abide by the competition Act and honor their supply agreements, “she said.

She, however, urged small businesses in the insurance and retail sectors to always keep written contracts between parties, an issue she said has been a key challenge to effective enforcement with 85 percent of the investigated cases lacking contracts.

The Authority, according to Njako relied on local purchase orders, invoices, and credit notes among other commercial documents to construe the terms of the contract between the parties.

In most cases, she noted that the absence of written contracts has been used by powerful buyers to vary contracts at will.

Of all the abuse of power cases reported in the 2020/21 financial year, the Insurance and retail sectors reported the highest cases at 38 percent followed by the manufacturing, telecommunication, construction, energy, agriculture, and horticulture sectors which cumulatively accounted for 24 percent of the cases.

In the 15 percent of cases where contracts were found to exist, all were standard term contracts prepared by buyers for signature by suppliers and which were skewed in favor of the buyers.

In addition, the authority says since July 2021, it had secured the release of Shs 5 million in overdue payments to SMEs in the telecommunication and agro-processing industry.

SOURCES: CAPITAL BUSINESS

ALSO READ:NCC signs PPP agreement with its consultant 3R Ltd for revenue assurance solutions

June 21, 2022 0 comment

Business Insights Product Comparism Product Review

2021 Most Innovative Startups to Work for in Nigeria

by Radarr Africa March 17, 2021

written by Radarr Africa

Over the years the Nigerian economy has recorded its highs and lows, regardless of this, new businesses have been founded, grown and excelled. Existing businesses alike have also recorded their fair share of wins, growing and breaking more barriers. What this means is that across Nigeria, there is a booming market that many other businesses both within and outside the country look to collaborate with.

With the resilience of many businesses across the country, battling odd policies and harsh conditions alike,many of these businesses have continued to boom. While there’s an inexhaustible list of businesses within the country, here is a list of some of the top companies to work with in Nigeria.

1. Paystack

Paystack is a Nigerian fintech company that is modernising online and offline payments across Nigeria. With their goal to help Nigerians get paid by anyone and anywhere, they are simplifying payments one transaction after another. They provide a seamless paying experience and are notable for having worked with many notable international and Nigerian brands.

Founded in 2015 by Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi, this business has become trusted by well over 60,000+ businesses including federal businesses such as the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (IRS). With the recent acquisition by Stripe for a whooping $200M the company set a double standard as both the first Nigerian company to get into a world famous Incubator as well as sell out at a valuation of over $200M. The new acquisition by Stripe gives the company an edge in it expansion plans across Africa and definitely an ideal skill honing company for any Techie

Their consistency and constant drive towards modernisation of payments systems as well as setting the standard for innovation in payment gateways earns them a feature on this list.

2. Kobo360

Founded in 2016, this logistics company is dominating supply chain management. Through their logistics operation, they seek to unify Africa – their unifying theme being “Africa Rising”. Backed by global investors such as Goldman Sachs, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Y Combinator to mention a few, this Pan African e-logistics company is looking to create a Global Logistics Operating System (GLOS) that will power trade and commerce across Africa.

The startup is part of a growing e-logistics and transport space in Africa linking on-demand apps to mobile-based connectivity to move people and goods around the continent more effectively. Since its founding, the company has transported over 1500Mkg of goods, aggregated a fleet of over 10,000 drivers and trucks, for small, medium and large enterprises like Olam, Dangote Group, Unilever, Flour Mills, Lafarge and more.

With the company raising $20 million Series A round led by Goldman Sachs and $10 million in working capital financing from Nigerian commercial banks it has swiftly expanded operations across West and East Africa, launching its own driver working capital finance program, KoPay, KoboSafe insurance product and KoboCare: a suite of driver services from HMO packages to family tuition assistance.

Kobo360 is determined to build a global logistics operating system that will empower trade and commerce for Africa and emerging markets.

Their value of creativity, drive and disruption of the logistics and haulage industry in Nigeria earns them a well deserved spot on this list.

3. Flutterwave

Flutterwave has slowly but surely won its way into the hearts of many Nigerian businesses. Not only do they provide a seamless mode of payment for many businesses, but their flutter wave stores also allow businesses to put up their businesses at no cost consequently opening these businesses to a larger market. This fintech company founded in 2014, is helping Nigerians meet more people with different payment options.

Not only have they helped businesses and individuals access easy forex for trade through their barter virtual cards, but they have also helped many keep track of their expenses using spending limits, and site-specific cards to avoid unnecessary costs and even limit security risks and internet fraud. This Nigerian fintech company only recently announced a $170 million Series B funding, valuing the company over $1 billion and earning the company the first Nigerian fintech to achieve Unicorn status as well as it’s an exclusive partnership with Paypal to allow PayPal customers globally to pay African merchants through its “Pay with PayPal” feature and connecting African businesses with over 377 million PayPal accounts globally. This is definitely a dream company for developers, techies and other young professionals

The variety this company offers and their products that are consistently simplifying payments for businesses, earns them a spot on our list

4. Lifebank

Lifebank is another top company in Nigeria that should top your list of companies to work within Nigeria. Think of technology improving healthcare with logistics and you’ll get a good picture of Lifebank. Founded in 2016 by Temie Giwa-Tubosun, this healthcare technology logistics company is taking the loss of lives due to a delay in getting blood for blood transfusion out of the list of problems embattling Nigerians.

The company with operations in Nigeria and Kenya uses technology and a multi-modal distribution platform to deliver blood and oxygen to hospitals across the nation thereby making them available when and where they are needed. This earned them $250,000 Africa Netpreneur Prize by Jack Ma Foundation and also $225,000 in seed funding.

They not only help transport blood across the country, they also help to increase the awareness and participation of individuals in voluntary blood donation across the country through various blood drives.

Lifebank’s innovation and notable contribution to the Nigerian healthcare industry earns them a spot on this list.

5. 4point Property

4Point Real Estate is a well-established family-oriented property development company providing Nigerians with the highest level of service and professionalism in real estate development. They build and deliver affordable homes, optimizing the home delivery process from land acquisition at best price to maximizing the use of construction materials to reduce construction cost, thereby making houses more affordable to the average Nigerian.

The company, bootstrapped by CEO, Wale Olayanju in 2017 has facilitated billions in real estate transactions in less than 3 years of operations, and within the same period constructed and delivered over 100 units of both houses and land delivered to customers, while promoting low-interest, medium-term mortgage offers to further ease the homeownership process, making it less burdensome to purchase.

Their business integrity sets them apart as one of the most trustworthy property development companies in Nigeria, adopting an organizational culture that promotes fun at the workplace which has gotten the company several trends on social platforms.

In an industry severely plagued with aggressive competition, stratagem, insincerity and avarice, the ability to balance the combined plethora of trust, integrity, excellence and fun is by far an admirable quality for any organization, thus earning 4point Property a spot on our list

6. 54Gene

54gene is one of the most exciting and innovative startups to come out of Nigeria and Africa in recent times. Since launching in 2019, the startup’s premise to address the significant gap in the global genomics market quickly caught the attention of local and international media.

54gene is committed to pushing the inclusion of African genome in research. Often underrepresented, many Africans don’t get tailored attention in medicine and 54 gene is narrowing that gap. Driven by the fact that less than 3% of genomic data represented in research is from African populations, 54Gene since its founding has pioneered the harnessing of the large diversity of Africans, generating insights from it and applying it to understanding the science behind many diseases and provide precision medicine for Africans & the world at large.

The company has since raised $19.5 million in series A funding, grown its workforce to over 300 researchers, clinicians and geneticists across the continent and built a biobank facility in Lagos with sample holding capacity at 60,000 with targeted expansion at 500,000.

Versatility, intentionality & a trusted board earns this company a top spot on our list of startups to work with in Nigeria

7. TeamApt

TeamApt is a Nigerian fintech company that provides digital financial services solutions and payment infrastructure. Launched in 2015, the Lagos-based fintech company was formed to solve inefficiencies in Nigeria’s growing digital financial services market and has a variety of products, including payments service AptPay, digital banking solution Moneytor, and Profectus Robotics, a back-office automation solution.

The startup, which counts 100 per cent of the country’s commercial banks amongst its customers, secured a switching licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and raised $5.5 million in series A funding, now has more than three million customers and over 100,000 businesses across its various solutions and infrastructure.

Team Apt looks to empower underserved individuals & businesses in emerging and frontier markets with a range of financial services. They are committed to giving access to various financial services that allow individuals to manage their money more efficiently.

The company has been described by many as the company of financial happiness. If giving financial independence or in this case, financial happiness to people tickles your fancy, working with Team Apt is the way to go.

Team Apt’s contributions to narrowing the financial gap makes them a worthy competitor for a spot in this compilation.

8. LandWey

Landwey, a member of Oxygen Holdings, is committed to providing real estate solutions with guarantee and confidence. The company was established in 2015 by Forbes Under 30 CEO, Olawale Ayilara, rose against all odds to become one of Nigeria’s top real estate development companies in less than 3 years of operations, facilitating billions of Naira in real estate transactions annually.

The company that started its operations by acquiring land en masse and reselling in plots to home seekers and investors now works to disrupt and improve the status quo by creating technological solutions that provide seamless access to real estate and has pivoted its operations to construction of residential housing schemes for middle-income families. Asides from providing housing solutions, LandWey offers investment guidance to home seekers, helping them navigate the industry to acquire properties that guarantee the best returns.

The technological drive of Landwey clearly sets them apart from other real estate development companies, from the adopting automation technologies in their construction process in delivering heightened luxury experiences to their clientele, to leveraging proptech in their client acquisition processes.

If learning and understanding the complex relationship of real estate and technology is your aspiration, working with LandWey should be your preferred choice.

9. Piggyvest

Piggyvest is notable for being the wealth-building tracker for many millennials. They are offering individuals around the world a means to financial inclusion by showing them easier ways to save and invest.

PiggyVest (originally known as Piggybank.ng) was launched in 2016, as a savings product. Over the years, they have introduced innovative products, from savings tools like Safelock, Target and Group Savings, and PiggyFlex, to insurance products like AvonFlex, as well as TrackIt, which helps individuals and businesses in becoming more effective at financial management to grow their money confidently.

Since its launch, the company has secured over 2 million subscribers, $1.2 million in series A funding and acquired Gold microfinance bank. The company’s being led by CEO, Joshua Chibueze and COO, Odunayo Eweniyi exude youthful exuberance with the perfect culture for millennials and the young at heart. Thus earning it a feature on our list

10. Crowdyvest

Crowdyvest is a Nigerian business simplifying the journey of many Nigerians to financial independence. Their main goal is to help Nigerians build great savings and investment habits via products that put them on the path and give them a gentle nudge in the right direction.

Launched in 2019, Crowdyvest was created to provide all-in-one financial solutions for individuals and businesses to achieve short or long-term goals, allowing users to sponsor high-impact opportunities with high yields. Founded by Farmcrowdy CEO, Onyeka Akumah and four others, the platform was part of the EMFATO Holdings that also includes Farmcrowdy and Plentywaka, but has now become independent after securing investment from a group of investors led by now CEO, Tope Omotolani.

The startup recently pivoted its operations from crowdfunding to savings and launched the Crowdyvest Savings Platform to give savings options to over 10,000 already subscribed members on its platform.

Crowdyvest is heavy on facilitating impactful growth in line with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and encourages a work- fun culture for employees.

In conclusion, these companies are stable economy contributors, certified, licensed and make for a wonderful partnership or employment. While this list doesn’t contain all of the best companies in Nigeria, you’ll find the top companies to work for in Nigeria.

March 17, 2021 2 comments

Brand Comparison Healthcare Manufacturing & Consumer Goods Nigeria Product Comparism Trending Today Western Africa

Brand Comparison: Peak 123 vs Dano Gold 123 Growing up Milk, Which is a Better Choice for Toddlers

by Blessing Ubani June 19, 2020

written by Blessing Ubani

The United Nations Population Division placed the birth rate for Nigeria in 2019 at 37.684 births per 1000 people and considering the population it is expected to grow in coming years this makes Nigeria a viable market for baby food and products.

In this review, we will analyse the two prime baby milk produced and consumed by Nigerians, Peak 123 and Dano Gold 123 Growing up Milk for babies of ages 1-3 years. Note that this review doesn’t rule out other well-known food brands like Frisco, Gerber, Enfamil, Aptamil or similac, but the aim of this research is to provide as much information as possible to mothers on these two Nigerian household brands to help them in selecting the ideal milk for their toddler.

Introducing Dairy milk to Toddlers

Making a switch from breastfeeding to cow’s milk is usually a mother’s biggest concern, while official guidelines recommend that parent hold off formula milk until babies approach their first year, to allow them sufficient time to build up their digestive and immune system and also helps reduce the likelihood of any serious allergic reaction on introducing cow’s milk. This stage and age for most toddlers is a time their immune systems are developed and their peak bone mass for lifelong habits are built.

What type of milk is best for Toddlers?

According to the Pediatric Association of Nigeria, toddlers ages 12 to 24 months are advised to drink whole milk which provides calcium, vitamin D, protein, vitamin A, and zinc which are all essential for healthy growth and development.

Flavoured milk: Chocolate, strawberry and other flavoured milk that contain added sugar should be avoided at this stage. Most toddlers develop a preference for flavoured milk such that it becomes difficult to accept the regular milk without the flavoured taste.

Plant-Based Milk: For some toddlers with milk intolerance or dairy allergy that constantly experience troubling symptoms such as gas and bloating once fed with cow’s milk, plant-based milk is not an option over cow milk since it is not nutritional equivalent to cow’s milk, rather soy milk over plant-based is recommended for toddlers as it contains the important nutrients such as protein, vitamin D and calcium.

What is the best type of milk for one-year-old babies and Toddlers?

Though milk comes in many varieties from fat-free (skim) to whole, organic and lactose-free, this review explains thoroughly what each term means.

Grass-Fed Dairy

Most Nigerian parents may not be familiar with this term, grass-fed dairy simply means milk that comes from cows fed with grass all year round rather than those fed with a processed diet. Which makes its milk rich in Omega-3 fats, vitamin E, beta-carotene and a beneficial fatty acid named conjugated linoleic acid which is associated with a wide variety of health benefit including immune and inflammatory system support, improved bone mass, improved blood sugar regulation, reduced body fat and maintenance of lean body mass.

Organic Milk

Most brands of non-organic milk, organic milk is usually pasteurized, fortified with vitamin D and is an excellent source of calcium. Though this can be a good option for toddlers. When you buy organic milk, you’re basically buying milk from a cow that was not given bovine growth hormone, didn’t eat feed that was treated with pesticides, not given antibiotics and met animal health and welfare standards.

Goat’s Milk

Goat’s milk contains a similar amount of protein, calcium, and vitamin A to cow’s milk. It has the equivalent lactose as cow’s milk, when it is whole, pasteurized and fortified with vitamin D and folic acid, then it can be considered an alternative to cow milk for toddlers

Locally made milk

Locally made milk like the unsweetened yoghurt is a wonderful option for toddlers. While the sweetened ones may contain too much sugar and not healthy for toddlers, the unsweetened variety mixed or blended with natural fruits like apples, bananas and strawberry can be considered.

About Peak

Friesland Campina formerly known as Wamco Nigeria Plc is Nigeria foremost dairy company and a market leader known to produce high-quality dairy nutrition through its brands, Peak, Three Crowns and Frisco. Over 60 years in Nigeria, Peak has become a household name for most Nigerians’ choice of a healthy dairy product. Peak isn’t just known for its quality dairy nutrition but has most of its product in a smaller sachet to meet the needs of the average Nigeria who cannot afford the bigger-sized dairy product. When choosing an all in one product packed with quality dairy nutrients, fortified with the required nutrients and a healthy choice, Peak milk remains the number one choice of many Nigerians

Review of Peak 123

Peak 123 Growing up Milk

Peak 123 comes in a refill pack of 380g, Just as the name suggests it is formulated specifically for kids between the ages of 1 to 3 years. The shelf price of Peak 123 in most roadside stores and major supermarkets is 1,150 naira and it contains essential minerals that support the growth of kids. Here is a breakdown of each mineral component:

Calcium	570mg
Phosphorous	460mg
Sodium	190mg
Magnesium	50mg
Zinc	3.0mg

About Dano

Dano Milk is produced by Arla Foods, a farmer-owned company based in Denmark. Over the years, the Dano brand has evolved tremendously and remains locally relevant in the Nigerian market and benefits from its international footprints across an array of markets in the Middle East, Africa, Bangladesh and parts of Latin America. Dano was launched in the early 1980s and till today, remains one of the fastest-growing milk brands in Nigeria.

Review of Dano Gold 123 Growing up Milk

Dano Gold 123 Growing up Milk

Dano Gold Growing up milk also comes in a refill pack of 380 grams, it has a smooth creamy taste filled with the essential minerals formulated to support the growth and wellbeing of kids. The retail price is 1000 Naira in most roadside stores and major supermarkets, slightly cheaper than Peak 123. Here is a breakdown on the essential mineral component:

Calcium	800mg
Phosphorus	550mg
Sodium	200mg
Magnesium	60mg
Zinc	4.7mg

Comparing Peak 123 and Dano Gold 123 Growing up Milk

For most Nigerian mothers who intend to switch their toddlers’ milk from formula to cow’s milk, Peak 123 primarily comes to mind, mostly because of its strong brand equity but also due to affordability when compared to the foreign varieties which are usually more expensive. Dano Gold 123 on the other hand, is relatively new to the toddler market but currently holds the second position over Peak 123 that have dominated the market for years.

What Consumers Say

To further establish good research, we conducted a survey in which 60 mothers were asked to make a pick between the two baby milk brands, 27 mothers went for the new Dano Gold 123, primarily due to the cost difference as they considered both milk brands to be ideal and couldn’t clearly identify a difference. 22 mothers picked Peak 123 reasons being trust in the Peak brand and unwillingness to switch brands, the remaining 11 were undecided.

At the end of the survey the milk brands had total ratings as follows:

Dano Gold 123 Rating: 63% like

Peak 123 Rating: 55% like

In my personal opinion, Peak 123 and Dano Gold 123 are both good and reliable brands that I’d give my children. I’m very particular about both nutrients my babies consume and both brands offer a fair proportion of that and did well to outline them on their packaging.

However, while both baby milk manufacturers group their milk by ages numbering from 1-3 Growing up Kids, both are made from skimmed milk which I feel may not be ideal for toddlers below 24 months but rather for children from age three that require less fat in their diet.

Though in the absence of whole fat milk, a dairy product that contains soy would be an ideal alternative. Only Dano Gold 123 provides this option along with rapeseed, an important source of Omega 3, and palm kernel oil, both essential for healthy growth and development in babies.

In conclusion, while the choice of baby milk is at every consumer’s discretion, and factors like prices and availability can easily influence buyer decisions, it is important that parents keep a mindful eye on the nutritional content of products their infants consume. After all, it is our dream as parents to raise strong and healthy children that would outlive us.

So tell us which of these two will you recommend and why?

June 19, 2020 18 comments

Product Comparism Product Review Real Estate Spotlight

Top 5 Verified Real Estate Development Companies To Buy Residential Land in Lekki

by Blessing Ubani December 5, 2019

written by Blessing Ubani

The demand for properties in Nigeria has increased significantly over the last few years with the ministry of Housing pegging the current housing deficit at 22 million units. This demand gap has led to an increase in the number of development firms springing up with the promise of proferring a solution to the current housing challenges through affordable housing. But is housing in Nigeria truly affordable as recent industry reports have featured several innocent Nigerians defrauded of their hard-earned money in a zeal to become landlords or purchase properties that can be passed over to their offsprings. Over 60% of land and housing scams has been recorded from transactions involving properties in the Ibeju-Lekki part of Lagos state.

Our investigations revealed several ways real estate developers scam innocent Nigerians into purchasing properties with scrupulous Land Title documentations like Registered Surveys, Deed of Assignments and Excision in Process which are not valid documents that can validate the ownership of any property in Nigeria.

We have put together a list of Top Real Estate Development firms in Lagos that have built a reputation in developing and selling certified properties across the Lekki, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos State and are developing properties with valid Title documentation that can be considered a safe buy for potential residents and investors.

1. Rendeavour (Alaro City)

Alaro City is a development by Rendeavour, an international-based property development company with a portfolio of more than 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) of land in the urban growth trajectories of major cities in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Alaro City is located on 1,000 ha (2,470 acres) within the Lekki Free Zone, the largest free zone in West Africa. The site is adjacent to the approved location for the proposed Lekki International Airport and in close proximity to the deep seaport and a number of planned industrial developments. The project is underway with bulk infrastructure roll-out and first developers already constructing. The Rendeavour project is a joint venture with the Lagos State Government.

Alaro City is designed as a mixed-income, city-scale development with master-planned areas for offices, logistics and warehousing, homes, schools, healthcare facilities, hotels, entertainment and 150 hectares of parks and open spaces.

The prime location and potential opportunities of the Lekki Free trade Zone in which it is situated set Alaro City as the choicest development along the Ibeju-Lekki Corridor, thus gaining our number one spot.

2. Mixta Nigeria (Fara Park)

Mixta Nigeria is a subsidiary of Mixta Africa, an ARM Company. Mixta Africa is Europe’s first-mover into the African Real Estate sector, with offices and major developments in Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Mauritania, Algeria and Egypt company flaunts an impeccable record for real estate project delivery.

Fara Park is a gated, fully serviced residential estate located in Sangotedo along the Lekki Epe expressway, at a distance of about 37km from Victoria Island. It sits on about 15 hectares of land and comprises over 300 housing units which include duplexes, blocks of apartments and patios.

Fara park has an excellent road layout. The estate infrastructure includes tarred roads, an effective drainage network, street lights, pedestrian walkway, green area and recreational area with a swimming pool, tennis court, football field, and basketball court. The estate has round the clock security, electricity and water supply. An annual service charge covers security, water supply, waste management, gardening, maintenance of public places, cleaning and gardening of the environment and infrastructural repairs.

By virtue of its location, the resale value of Land and houses in Fara park are expected to quadruple over the next 5 years as newer developments spring up rapidly around Abijo, Lakowe and Bogije axis of Lekki.

3. PropertyMart (The Fairmont)

Established in 2008, with a strong presence across the Residential property sectors. Propertymart has earned her position as one of the top Nigerian owned Real Estate companies. Its flagship development, Citiview in Arepo, Ogun state saw the company’s speedy rise to fame and recognition.

The Fairmont, located on Monastery Road in Sangotedo has been portrayed as the dream estate for the middle class. Though still in the pre-development phase, being situated in close proximity to the popular Novare Shopping Mall and the applaudable 3-years payment scheme Propertymart offers on the purchase of serviced plots has earned the property the tag of “fairest deal on the Lekki corridor”. The property is covered by a global C of O so it qualifies as a safe investment for potential investors and residents.

4. Landwey (Urban Prime One)

Forbes under 30 honoree, Olawale Ayilara took the Real Estate industry by storm in leading his company, Landwey Investments, to fame & recognition in a short span of 24 months from inception. Landwey specializes in identifying and developing affordable under-developed land within Sangotedo and down to Eleko at the ingress of Ibeju Lekki.

Urban Prime One is located along Ogombo road beside the renowned Abraham Adesanya Estate and sits on over 10 acres of land covered by a C of O. It is currently undergoing major development as early residents and investors have begun erecting housing structures. Its close proximity to the State developed Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah and VGC communities make it a prime investment option with positive growth expectations in the near future.

5. Adron Homes (Rehoboth Park & Garden)

Adron Homes popularly known for its Guerilla style marketing has become a household name in the Nigerian Real Estate industry. The company specializes majorly in the purchase and horizontal development of under-developed land in suburban Lagos and boasts of over 25 estates under their property portfolio and 28 operational offices spread across Nigeria.

Rehoboth Park & Gardens remains Adron Homes prime development within Ibeju-Lekki and holds a significant advantage over similar properties within the axis by virtue of possessing a C of O Title. The Phase 2 of the project located at the designated Eko Smart city beside the Free trade zone remains one of the extremely few properties in the axis with a verifiable C of O and currently sells at a whooping NGN30,000,000 for a 500sqm plot. With the level of development anticipated at the free trade zone and the resulting increase in property fraud within the axis, Adron’s Rehoboth Park & Gardens stands out as a safe Haven for potential property Investors.

Honourable Mentions

These may be our unbiased pick off the abundant projects and developments companies within the Lekki corridor. But that’s not to say there aren’t several other real estate firms developing amazing projects within the space. Here are a few honourable mentions in no particular order;

Dradrock Real Estate – Prime Oikos, Lakowe
Revolutionplus Property – Flourish Residences, Sangotedo
Pennek – The Estate, Ogombo, Ajah
4point Property – Amari Gardens, Epe
Novarick Homes – Wazobia Courts, Ibeju Lekki
Veritasi Homes – Claridge 1, Sangotedo
Gtext Homes – Jasper Estate
RealtyPros IGL – Flourish Gate, Abijo
Sevic PDC – Lekki Vale, Ibeju Lekki
Dpkay Homes – DPkay Estate, Sangotedo

Place your comments below. Tell us if your favourite property development company made our list or which company and project you think should have made the list.

December 5, 2019 6 comments

Brand Comparison Product Comparism

Brand Comparison: Delta vs Dettol which is most preferred?

by Radarr Africa November 20, 2019

written by Radarr Africa

Despite the fact that the Nigerian market is a very large one considering the population that grows every day, we have tried to analyze the soap industry in Nigeria with a special emphasis on two highly popular brands as of the time of this research – Delta and Dettol.

Note that this doesn’t rule out the fact that there are other well-known soap brands, the likes of Tetmosol, Dove, Pears, Olay, Irish Spring, Lux, Premier, Joy, Eva, Safeguard, Imperial Leather, unbranded, organic e.t.c, are still very much in use. The aim of this research is to find out customer’s thoughts and reviews on these very similar but different brands in the soap industry as they are one of the top trusted soap brands as of today.

About Dettol:

The name Dettol is not new to the Nigerian market, it is a brand that has been in existence for over 80 years, this proves its leadership position in the market. It is specifically known for its protective features against germs and diseases and its zeal to safeguard the health of families around the world by maintaining good hygiene. It is one brand that works with medical associates and global partners to fulfil this mission.

Product:

Its blend of Pine fragrance guarantees trusted protection from various diseases and germs.
Dettol products are medically proven to cleanse and protect your skin, giving you that refreshing feeling all day, every day. It is suitable for all types of skin and does not irritate the skin. It is one of the recommended soap by skin care specialists in Nigeria. It is a product suitable for all categories of people; the upper, middle class, and lower class. Dettol has other various products ranging from hair care to body care.

Price:

It has always been priced above its competitors and that hasn’t changed. A cream bar is about N200 which is higher than some of its competitors. Despite its price it still has a wide range of customers as they see higher prices as an indication of higher quality.

Packaging:

Dettol is packaged to depict premium quality and it is targeted at the ideal family. It has retained its packaging over the years and has introduced various product variations, There is Dettol Re-energize, cool, even tone, skincare, herbal and original. This has helped them sustain and boost sales, winning more and more consumers.

About Delta:

Delta soap is the 12th soap brand of Orange drug manufacturing company, a leading company in Nigeria’s soap industry, as at the time it was introduced into the market it was a ‘must-have’ toiletry in most families. It has been in existence for over 13years. It is an antiseptic soap strategically designed to clean and smoothen the skin, the brand’s fragrance could pass for body spray or perfumes. Delta soap is specifically known for its effective prevention and treatment of skin infection.

Product:

Apart from its long-lasting fragrance, It is used for the prevention, treatment, control, & improvement of diseases like
Bacterial infections. The soap contains Trichlorocarbanilide as an active ingredient and it works by blocking the activity of acyl-carrier protein reductase.

Price:

Its prices are more affordable in comparison to Dettol soap. A cream bar is about N170, which makes it affordable to all classes of people. Its users range from both the rich and average.

Packaging:

The brand hasn’t changed its packaging since its establishment in comparison to its competitors, however, in recent times it has tried reformulating and repackaging itself, most especially with its new advertorials, competitions, and brand ambassadors being on the lips of everyone. This has helped revive the brand name. Delta is a combination of different variations; there is the Delta Herbal, Super cool, Aleo vera, and Plus.

Comparing between Dettol and Delta Soap

Although Dettol came into existence before Delta both soap brands are dominating the market greatly. Both brand’s period of existence is enough to achieve their visions and goals. Fortunately, they have done and are still doing very well. They have made good names for themselves by fighting earnestly to safeguard the health of families around the world and instil good hygiene, positioning themselves as major players in the Nigerian Market Soap Industry.

What customers say

To further establish good research we have asked Nigerians to share their thought. We asked; Which of these brands do you use or prefer? we got some answers. The respondents adjudged the soap brands based on price, effectiveness, and packaging.

One of the interviewed who identified herself as Tomi said; “I prefer using Dettol, it is very good for my skin”

JD, from Yaba, said “Delta is the only soap I use, it is very cool for bathing”

Henry a fan of Dettol says “It kills bacterias fast and leaves you clean and fresh all day long”

In the end, the soap brands had a total of;
Delta Rating: 70% likes, 30% dislike
Dettol Rating: 40% likes, 10% dislike

In my own opinion, both Delta and Dettol bathing soap are all shades of awesome, they both hydrate your skin leaving you feeling fresh all through the day. So buy the one you prefer and stay happy.

In conclusion, Dettol and Delta are Nigeria’s No 1 Best Therapy For a Smooth, Clean and Fresh Skin Free from Bacteria. They are both effective, have lovely packaging, and are reliable. They have very good fragrances and are loved by many. And while some customers may prefer one over the other, it is all a matter of preference. With that established, it should also be noted that inasmuch as both brands are equally successful, there is still the need for both brands to constantly innovate and improve themselves in order to remain relevant as the market is ever competitive.

So tell us which of these two will you recommend and why?

November 20, 2019 23 comments