The late ex-NAFDAC boss Professor Dora Akunyili will ever be remembered in the history of Nigeria as the one who popularized the phrase, 'rebranding Nigeria'. But, although she did this later on while she was doing Lai Muhammad's current job, you will agree with me that she did more to positively rebrand Nigeria in her days at NAFDAC - which proves that saying, "action speaks louder than words". 


Similarly, here are local Nigerian brands making global news without making noise. These brands should stand as a beacon of hope that we can still make something good out of the country if we're ready to work harder and smarter instead of wasting our mental energy in inter-tribal war of words. 


And I will give you reasons why these brands can easily spur such an economic revolution that could just make Nigeria a choice destination for people all over the world (never say nay):


10. WasapOrder

9. Flutterwave

8. Interswitch

7. Paystack

6. Nairaland (has absolutely nothing to do with us being on NL, mind you) 

5. Bet9ja

4. Zinox Technologies

3. Dangote Group

2. Innoson Group

1. ME (a.k.a. YOU)


I will comment on each of them and see if we can learn one or two things from them that can help us nationally and individually. At least, you are sure to learn why I awarded the first position to an unidentified brand known as 'ME' (a.k.a, YOU). 


ALSO: I know that many people will call for my head for ranking Innoson Group ahead of Dangote Group on this list. But it's not all about net worth. I will tell you why, giving you my personal view quite honestly. Remember that, although I will be citing sources, this is my list, not FG or Forbes list .

I dey wait

10. WasapOrder: This is a free service that lets anyone sell directly to Whatsapp users anywhere in the world. Many Nigerians who use this service would be surprised to learn that it is based in our own dear Lagos. 


The increasing global popularity of WasapOrder is based on a number of factors: For instance, the fact that it works with the most popular mobile messaging app on the Planet. Next is that it makes the job of selling fun by having a professionally-looking Whatsapp-linked web presence. So, it combines the presentability of a website with the ease of communication of Whatsapp without the need to download any other app. Learn more about WasapOrder here:

https://wasaporder.com/forum/forum/off-marketplace-discussions/

9. Flutterwave: The fintech brand's recent partnership with PayPal is mainly why it made this list - just as WasapOrder made it through its link to Whatsapp. For years, African online merchants were hugely marginalized globally due to PayPal limitations. But now, sellers from Africa can easily receive PayPal-originated payments with just a Flutterwave merchant account. 


For a Nigerian brand to be able to remove years of PayPal reproach on African sellers, it's global outlook is clearly promising. Now, Africa's 1.3 billion people are here for Flutterwave's taking. Learn more about Flutterwave here.

8. Interswitch: Interswitch is the company that flies Nigeria's integrated card payment flag in almost 200 countries across the world with its Verve Global that competes with the likes of Mastercard, American Express, and Visa. You guessed right: It's why I consider it to have a global reputation - and why it made this list of course.

7. Paystack: When the San Francisco-based financial services/SaaS outfit Stripe acquired Nigeria-based fintech startup Paystack last October for an undisclosed amount believed to be up to $200 million, it made news headlines across the world. Well, it's not just the amount of money involved that's at issue in the news. Rather, it's the fact that Silicon Valley's most prized asset Stripe ventured into the highly uncertain waters of an economy like Nigeria's. 


They can say all they like for all I care. But, they can't change the fact that it was a Nigerian company that was prized and priced so highly. Nigerians can draw a lot of hope from that.

9ice

6. Nairaland: There are two indigenous Nigerian brands whose websites made it to Alexa's top 1000 most visited sites around the world and our own dear Nairaland is one of them. It places 771st globally at the time of compiling this report while it is the 6th most visited site at home (and coincidentally 6th on my list, wow! I don make am las las). 


Nairaland is now largely seen as an online version of the physical Nigeria where you can sample the exact opinions on any issue across the country. But what many Nigerians do not know is that Nairaland receives very large traffic from the USA, UK, India, China, and other top countries especially in the English-speaking regions.

Interesting topic. Nigeria is actually blessed and if only we Nigerians recognise that fact. Please finish up your writeup.

Meanwhile, I always love your posts not only because of the intelligence displayed but for the fact that you don't go tribal. Keep them coming please

5. Bet9ja: Bet9ja.com is now the second most visited site in Nigeria after Google.com according to Alexa which also ranks it 173rd most visited site in the world. Although this portrays us as a gambling country (which is not a good reputation), the fact is that Bet9ja is competing very favorably globally in the betting market - mind you, we are talking economics here, not morality per se. 


If you are still wondering why Bet9ja made it, think about this: Do you know what it takes for a site to place 173rd out of almost 2 billion websites on the worldwide web as we talk and that site is Nigeria-based?

4. Zinox: Zinox which rightly describes itself as "the first internationally certified indigenous computer brand in West Africa" started with the manufacture of computer hardware. Flying Nigeria's flag very proudly, Zinox is the first (and probably the only) computer hardware outfit to ever include the Naira sign in its keyboard. 


The e-commerce platform Konga would have made this list independently if not that it was acquired by Zinox in 2018. It may interest you to know that Zinox has built Konga to the position of a leading e-commerce retailer in the African continent. Zinox also owns 2 other less known e-commerce platforms - Yudala and BuyRightAfrica.com

Bet9ja ke? how can bet9ja make Nigeria a global destination?

3. Dangote Group: With the founder of Dangote Group getting named as the richest African for the 10th time in a row this February, it's not difficult to fathom why the conglomerate is the second on this list. It would have been first if not for a reason I will disclose down below. 


Although Dangote Group took off as an FMCG firm, it's biggest concern currently is in cement production, throwing up about 46 million metric tons of cement annually. This huge output is sold across 10 African countries. 


With Dangote Group's oil refinery "expected to be one of the world's largest oil refineries once complete" according to Forbes' authoritative viewpoint, the company and its founder are expected to top world (not just African) charts back to back in a few years from now. They may even top my own list when that happens (for instance, if they solve the problem of gas scarcity for a considerable length of time)

theenchanter:
Bet9ja ke? how can bet9ja make Nigeria a global destination?

Read this...

BrandBrainBox:
5. Bet9ja: Bet9ja.com is now the second most visited site in Nigeria after Google.com according to Alexa which also ranks it 173rd most visited site in the world. Although this portrays us as a gambling country (which is not a good reputation), the fact is that Bet9ja is competing very favorably globally in the betting market - mind you, we are talking economics here, not morality per se. 


If you are still wondering why I placed Bet9ja second, think about this: Do you know what it takes for a site to place 173rd out of almost 2 billion websites on the worldwide web as we talk and that site is Nigeria-based? 

Global destination can be physical or virtual.

2. Innoson Group:
Innoson is the most enigmatic brand in Nigeria. That's my view. I will give my point below and anyone who likes can counter it with a superior point. 


First, remember this: vehicle manufacturing is easily the most challenging sector from which any of the mentioned brands are drawn. It is not something you can start without very long-standing tradition, fully enabling environment and local competition to spur you on. But, without the 3 factors, Innoson Group has used its auto-making arm IVM to do things in Nigeria that only well-established international brands like Toyota, Nissan, and Ford have been able to achieve. 


They have vehicle models in bus (both mini and maxi), SUV, truck, and more. All these are finished at top global-rated standards. It has also been touted to be involved in developing military vehicles for the Nigerian Army. 


So, far IVM is in a league of its own with absolutely no one yet being able to compete with them (at least, until that Northern guy Buhari sent to the US to study automobile design and engineering returns to start something if he ever does)

1. ME: I swore (like Sowore) that I will not award the first position to any currently known brand. The reason is that I am absolutely sure that our best is yet to be here and that our best can just be ANYONE. Yes, and I mean, including YOU.

Believe this. Touch yourself and say "ME, I am going to occupy that number 1 slot. If the founders of these and other well-performing local brands could do it, why not me? I can do it, and I will do it"

Whether you are Arewa, Biafra, Oduduwa, Boko Haram, or whatever other tribe, group, or nation seeking independence from Nigeria, I want you to know that, FOR NOW, NIGERIA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY WE HAVE. So, each person should work to make it work.

I'm only trying to point out that we can always help ourselves individually no matter how badly things may get. Each of these brands mentioned can easily inspire ANYONE in the country to create what could make Americans beg to have Nigerian visas (never say nay) because we are defeating even herder terrorists and all the barbaric groups messing us up.

Finally, I have a wonderful insight for a few of you who are ready to think out of the box. It is a best-kept secret anyone can easily use to create a brand that sells wide with just an internet access, using free tools. You can do this even with just a good knowledge of something (like car problems or baby-nursing technique). I will be sharing it via a multimedia conference on Telegram. It's free but to stop the mods from closing this topic, I will share the link privately only with those who show interest. So, if you are interested, just comment "INTERESTED". Thank you.

BrandBrainBox:
1. ME: I swore (like Sowore) that I will not award the first position to any currently known brand. The reason is that I am absolutely sure that our best is yet to be here and that our best can just be ANYONE. Yes, and I mean, including YOU.

Believe this. Touch yourself and say "ME, I am going to occupy that number 1 slot. If the founders of these and other well-performing local brands could do it, why not me? I can do it, and I will do it"

Whether you are Arewa, Biafra, Oduduwa, Boko Haram, or whatever other tribe, group, or nation seeking independence from Nigeria, I want you to know that, FOR NOW, NIGERIA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY WE HAVE. So, each person should work to make it work.

I'm only trying to point out that we can always help ourselves individually no matter how badly things may get. Each of these brands mentioned can easily inspire ANYONE in the country to create what could make Americans beg to have Nigerian visas (never say nay) because we are defeating even herder terrorists and all the barbaric groups messing us up.

Finally, I have a wonderful insight for a few of you who are ready to think out of the box. It is a best-kept secret anyone can easily use to create a brand that sells wide with just an internet access, using free tools. You can do this even with just a good knowledge of something (like car problems or baby-nursing technique). I will be sharing it via a multimedia conference on Telegram. It's free but to stop the mods from closing this topic, I will share the link privately only with those who show interest. So, if you are interested, just comment "INTERESTED". Thank you.

Interested.

Welcum:


Read this...



Global destination can be physical or virtual.

almost every country has its own version of sport betting companies, it's not peculiar to nigeria alone..... So how can bet9ja be a virtual global destination when one can easily place a sport bet wherever he/she is?

theenchanter:
almost every country has its own version of sport betting companies, it's not peculiar to nigeria alone..... So how can bet9ja be a virtual global destination when one can easily place a sport bet wherever he/she is?

But, which of these countries have their betting brands among the 200 most visited site all over the world among billions of websites. That's why it is one of the brands getting Nigeria known... maybe, not a 'global destination' in the ordinary sense.

INTERESTED

Welcum:

But, which of these countries have their betting brands among the 200 most visited site all over the world among billions of websites. That's why it is one of the brands getting Nigeria known... maybe, not a 'global destination' in the ordinary sense.

OK, the whole world will be coming over here to play Bet9ja That's the ops view though.

Welcum:

But, which of these countries have their betting brands among the 200 most visited site all over the world among billions of websites. That's why it is one of the brands getting Nigeria known... maybe, not a 'global destination' in the ordinary sense.

bet9ja may be among the top 200 sites because of the huge chunk of nigerian youths that do visit the site.... Imagine in a nation of 200m, if just 1m youths are visiting the site everyday, won't the site top chart? And please, it's not getting Nigerian known! It's majorly known by Nigerians.

Being a top charted site doesn't really mean jare cos I'm sure porn sites will be there too and it doesn't make it a big deal.

Yeah, the bolded is exactly what I'm driving at....... Including NL.

Interesting exposure

theenchanter:
bet9ja may be among the top 200 sites because of the huge chunk of nigerian youths that do visit the site.... Imagine in a nation of 200m, if just 1m youths are visiting the site everyday, won't the site top chart? And please, it's not getting Nigerian known! It's majorly known by Nigerians.

Being a top charted site doesn't really mean jare cos I'm sure porn sites will be there too and it doesn't make it a big deal.

Yeah, the bolded is exactly what I'm driving at....... Including NL.

Alexa that ranked it, is it Nigerian? If Alexa ranked it among 200 out of billions, that means it's not only Nigerians that know about Bet9ja. It means it's famous on a world stage being Alexa. Check am nah.

simplePOS:
Interesting topic. Nigeria is actually blessed and if only we Nigerians recognise that fact. Please finish up your writeup.

Meanwhile, I always love your posts not only because of the intelligence displayed but for the fact that you don't go tribal. Keep them coming please

Thanks for the appreciation. Yes, Nigeria is blessed and I mean the people called 'Nigeria' (not just the name. Even if Nigeria breaks up today, that truth still remains that "Nigeria is blessed" but the people largely do not recognize that fact.

BrandBrainBox:

Thanks for the appreciation. Yes, Nigeria is blessed and I mean the people called 'Nigeria' (not just the name. Even if Nigeria breaks up today, that truth still remains that "Nigeria is blessed" but the people largely do not recognize that fact.

Which one do you support? United Nigeria or breakup?

10mobile:

Which one do you support? United Nigeria or breakup?

I don't believe in quitting. I believe in fighting my battle. Our problems are deeper than "united or breakup". Even if Nigeria breaks up today, new problems will emerge in the new nations with other groups seeking to break away. In Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu group will fight dirty with Asari Dokubo group. In Oduduwa, the Igboho/OPC group will have to deal with fellows like Tinubu. These are desperate factions that will stop at nothing to get what they want. The major problem of Southern Nigerians is that we only know book without knowing the truth. Let's learn to look before we leap. Read this and see: Southern Nigeria Declared 'The World Capital of Stupidity'.

BrandBrainBox:

I don't believe in quitting. I believe in fighting my battle. Our problems are deeper than "united or breakup". Even if Nigeria breaks up today, new problems will emerge in the new nations with other groups seeking to break away. In Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu group will fight dirty with Asari Dokubo group. In Oduduwa, the Igboho/OPC group will have to deal with fellows like Tinubu. These are desperate factions that will stop at nothing to get what they want. The major problem of Southern Nigerians is that we only know book without knowing the truth. Let's learn to look before we leap. Read this and see: Southern Nigeria Declared 'The World Capital of Stupidity'.

OK, what do you suggest as the solution to our problems as a country? For example, how can we solve the problem of Fulani always trying to take over everything?

Welcum:

Alexa that ranked it, is it Nigerian? If Alexa ranked it among 200 out of billions, that means it's not only Nigerians that know about Bet9ja. It means it's famous on a world stage being Alexa. Check am nah.

bobo, alexa rank site based on the number of visitors, it doesn't matter where the visitors reside. If u like create a website in ur village, there's a metric for counting the number of people that visits the site on a daily basis.

Now, I'm not saying it's only nigerians that know bet9ja but it's MAJORLY known by Nigerians. U can go to egypt or even any african country and ask them about bet9ja and watch the ignorance on their face..... But ask them about Aliexpress or Amazon and u'll see that some of them actually know about it.

And no, bet9ja is not ranked among 200 websites. Bet9ja is at ranked at 278.

Yes, there are almost 2b websites in the world but less than 200m are active, about 90% are dormant.

theenchanter:
bobo, alexa rank site based on the number of visitors, it doesn't matter where the visitors reside. If u like create a website in ur village, there's a metric for counting the number of people that visits the site on a daily basis.

Now, I'm not saying it's only nigerians that know bet9ja but it's MAJORLY known by Nigerians. U can go to egypt or even any african country and ask them about bet9ja and watch the ignorance on their face..... But ask them about Aliexpress or Amazon and u'll see that some of them actually know about it.

And no, bet9ja is not ranked among 200 websites. Bet9ja is at ranked at 278.

Yes, there are almost 2b websites in the world but less than 200m are active, about 90% are dormant.

Bro (or sis?), thanks for your strong interest in this. First, click here to see Bet9ja.com's page on Alexa. It was ranked 173rd yesterday while I was writing but today at about 11:50 am (WAT), it was 174th.

Next, here is an example of how Bet9ja.com's top place on the Alexa list could help to make Nigeria a global destination: Entrepreneurs across the world often get involved in SEO and SEM researches. One of the favorite points of such a research is to find high PR sites to target their backlinks at or for other marketing insights. And one of the common ways to locate high PR sites is to look for those that top the Alexa chart.

In the process of looking for 'top 100, top 200, top 1000, etc sites on Alexa, a wealthy but adventurous entrepreneur in Canada might discover that a betting platform made it to the top 200 on the globally respected ranking. The business man in the guy might begin to ask why it is so. Then, he discovers that it is so because the site in question is located in a country with huge populations of unemployed youths. This could inspire the entrepreneur to set up a production plant somewhere in Nigeria because it means he can get labor more readily and so, cheaper.

That's an investor coming to explore Nigeria. And when he sets up his plant, many of his skilled workers will certainly relocate to Nigeria. Also, many of his customers will be coming to Nigeria for business. And, if I must tell you this, many companies with bases in Nigeria were moved by such factors as availability of cheap labor, access to the sea, and a huge local market. These are some of the reasons attracting investors to Nigeria in spite of many extraordinary challenges that characterize the country's local business environment.

If you still disagree, feel free to air your further objections. Thanks once again.

10mobile:

OK, what do you suggest as the solution to our problems as a country? For example, how can we solve the problem of Fulani always trying to take over everything?

I will take time to answer this in a separate post. I will mention you in the post. Thanks.