YuuZoo targets Nigeria in tie-up with Etisalat

Yuuzoo Corporation has signed a deal with Etisalat to bring its social e-commerce model to Nigeria, said YuuZoo on Wednesday evening, shortly after requesting a trading halt.

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YuuZoo targets Nigeria in tie-up with Etisalat

Mindy Tantan
27 November 2014

Yuuzoo Corporation has signed a deal with Etisalat to bring its social e-commerce model to Nigeria, said YuuZoo on Wednesday evening, shortly after requesting a trading halt.

The partnership targets Etisalat’s more than 20 million subscribers in Nigeria, including thousands of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“There are two different elements under the programme, the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C). We will launch our normal e-commerce networks to the consumers first and then we will of course add Nigeria-specific networks for Nigerian consumers,” said Thomas Zilliacus, chairman and CEO of YuuZoo.

“There’s a separate B2B part where we will build a social e-commerce platform for the Nigeria SMEs. E-commerce in Nigeria is stil in the early days, so early revenue is only US$500 million with an annual potential of US$10 billion.”

Nigeria is a key market for UAE-based Etisalat. In 2013, it announced a US$500 million investment programme to further boost quality and subscriber growth.

Some of Etilsalat’s Nigerian services include the Etisalat Football Community, offering fans breaking news, tips, stories, match highlights and all the goals as they are scored from all major football leagues across the world including the EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga, etc, a partnership for Nigeria with FC Barcelona, and the sponsorships for Africa’s Next Top Model and the Nigerian Idol.

“The partnership with Etisalat adds a reach to an additional 20 million subscribers to our existing base of over 65 million in 164 countries. We will work closely with Etisalat and build the business quickly, and have therefore opened an office in Lagos,” added Mr Zilliacus.

YuuZoo is looking to launch the e-commerce network in the first quarter of 2015.

“Etisalat is eager to start this as soon as possible and they have said to us they will allocate a significant budget for the marekting as soon as it is ready,” he added.

Said Etisalat Nigeria CEO Matthew Willsher: “YuuZoo’s unique social e-commerce model, which combines social networking, e-commerce and gaming under one single mobile-optimised and fully localised destination, adds a hugely attractive dimension to what we can offer the more than 170 million consumers in Africa’s largest market. YuuZoo’s social e-commerce model will create new opportunities for us - that the traditional social media model does not offer.”

YuuZoo shares last traded at 59.5 Singapore cents, up 4.5 cents, before the trading halt at about 4pm on Wednesday. Trading resumes on Thursday.

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