By Kingsley Alumona
Nigerian e-commerce and logistics startup, Kinra, has reiterated its commitment to simplifying e-commerce and logistics services with tailored solutions for local markets geared towards empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and impacting the economy.
The co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Kinra, Mr David Inioluwa Ajibade, said this on Wednesday, through a communique to the press, while commenting on why Nigeria and Africa need more e-commerce and logistics platforms to make life and business more convenient.
Ajibade explained that the word ‘Kinra’, derived from the Yoruba phrase ‘Jẹ kin ra’, means ‘let me buy’. He added that the name reflects their mission of making shopping easy and accessible.
He further added that Kinra, which officially started in 2021, evolved from their earlier platform, Jekinraa, which focused on groceries and cultural products, but after running Jekinraa for about two years, they experienced challenges and decided to rebrand into Kinra with better features and services.
According to him, Kinra is now a full-scale digital marketplace, not just for their own products, but also as a platform where millions of other vendors could onboard, list their products, manage transactions, and connect directly with customers.
He further said that Kinra offers vendors personalised storefronts and analytical tools for tracking sales, auditing inventory, and understanding performance. For buyers, he added that their products range from groceries, electronics, and fashion to locally handmade goods, and that their customers get notifications when out-of-stock items are restocked.
“Kinra can now better cater to specific communities, preferences, and logistics, ultimately offering more personalised and efficient shopping experiences,” he said.
Ajibade noted that though physical shops and markets exist across Nigeria and other countries, shopping online ─ through platforms like Kinra ─ offers convenience, wider product variety, and better price comparison, which helps to eliminate travel time and allows users in remote areas to access products not available locally.
He emphasised that they are not in competition with any business or brand, but are open to collaborations that will grow and sustain Kinra and help it expand to other countries.
In light of this, he stated that with Nigeria’s vast population and diverse consumers, there is plenty of room for e-commerce and online platforms to create healthy competition, improve service quality, and address niche markets often underserved by larger platforms.
The Kinra CEO noted that though many Nigerians shop online, they can be encouraged to do more through trust-building, transparent return policies, buyer protection, good customer support, pay-on-delivery services, and the adoption of local language interfaces.
He debunked the rumours that shopping online is unsafe, stressing that it is becoming safer to shop online these days due to better technology and awareness.
On how Kinra handles trust issues, he added, “We vet sellers, allow customer reviews, and maintain a dedicated team that handles disputes. Refunds are offered when necessary to maintain trust.”
Speaking on the challenges Nigerian online shopping startups face and how they can be solved, he listed logistics, funding, and trust as major hurdles, which can be addressed through partnerships, education, and government support through digital infrastructure and finance.
“Government support could include grants, improved broadband infrastructure, tax reliefs, and investment in logistics networks that support e-commerce growth,” he added.
The Kinra CEO revealed that in two years, with their vision of empowering SMEs and simplifying logistics with tailored solutions for local markets, they aim to become a leading e-commerce platform across Nigeria and begin expansion into other African countries.
