The summit will convene key stakeholders across Nigeria’s technology, digital, and commerce ecosystems, providing a platform for meaningful dialogue on the future of commerce and innovation in the country.

Expected attendees include government stakeholders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and innovators who will explore emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the commerce and logistics landscape.

Speaking about the planned summit, Reni Onafeko, interim general manager, Glovo Nigeria, said that the event reflects the company’s commitment to empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which are widely regarded as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, with access to tools, insights, and digital infrastructure.

Onafeko explained that Glovo Future of Commerce 2.0 will focus on scaling impact across Nigerian cities, leveraging technology to drive inclusive growth and expand access to digital commerce opportunities.

“At Glovo, we are deeply committed to empowering local businesses and creating opportunities for SMBs to thrive in an increasingly digital economy. Nigeria’s commerce ecosystem is evolving rapidly, driven by innovation and a new generation of entrepreneurs.

The Future of Commerce Summit 2.0 reflects our vision of fostering collaboration and equipping entrepreneurs with the tools and insights needed to scale sustainably. Through this platform, we aim to amplify the voices of businesses and drive impactful conversations that will shape the future of commerce in Nigeria,” she said.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition last year, the 2026 summit aims to spotlight the role of digital platforms in driving economic growth, empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Customers are no longer just walking past your store – they are searching, comparing, and ordering from their phones.

This didn’t happen overnight; it’s the result of years of digitalisation, which has shifted norms and created increasingly seamless and convenient online shopping experiences

For Small & Medium Businesses (SMBs), this shift creates a massive opportunity, but also complexity. There are now countless tools for listing, advertising, delivery, payments, and customer engagement.

The challenge is no longer whether to go digital, but where to start and what actually drives results. What should you prioritise? What will actually serve your bottom line?

Many business owners end up signing up to multiple platforms without a clear plan – hoping something works. But not every tool will move your business forward. Building the right “digital stack” – the set of tools you use to run and grow your business, is now a strategic decision.

The most successful SMBs don’t treat digitalisation as an add-on; they build it into how they operate. They are also not trying to do everything – they focus on a few high-impact areas that directly improve sales, efficiency, and customer experience.

For the Nigerian consumer, time is the ultimate currency. Between long commutes, unpredictable traffic, and the demands of a busy lifestyle, every minute saved is a win.

Consumers are looking for convenience that actually works. The businesses that will lead the market are those that use digital tools to make discovery, ordering, delivery, and communication faster and more reliable.

This isn’t about turning every business into an e-commerce giant. It’s about making practical upgrades that help you run more effectively day to day.

Planning your stack of digital tools can be done in four simple steps:

1. Discoverability

If customers can’t find you, nothing else matters.

Focus on being visible on platforms where customers already search; maintain an active social presence and list on platforms that actively bring you demand (not just tools you have to manage yourself).

2. Conversion

Once customers find you, make it easy for them to buy. This means the purchase process must be as smooth as possible.

Think simple ordering experiences, clear menus or pricing, fast checkout, and reliable delivery options.

Tools that allow in-app promotions, ads, and marketplace visibility (such as platforms like Glovo) can also help convert demand at the point of purchase. The goal here is to turn visibility into actual orders.

3. Fulfilment

Customers have found you, been converted, and completed a purchase. It is now critical that they receive their product reliably and on time. This is where many businesses struggle, managing logistics internally is expensive and complex.

Platforms like Glovo help solve this by providing delivery infrastructure, access to riders, and operational support. The goal here is to deliver consistently without having to build everything yourself.

4. Relationship

Sustained growth doesn’t come from one-time customers – nurturing the relationship to build loyalty and drive repeat business is crucial.

Loyalty schemes, CRM tools, and automated marketing can help you retain customers and increase lifetime value.

Digitalisation doesn’t mean abandoning your physical presence. It means strengthening it. For example, a local restaurant can take pre-orders online to reduce wait times, while a neighbourhood store can expand reach through delivery.

These are practical changes that directly impact revenue.

The challenge for SMBs today isn’t lack of tools – it’s choosing the right ones.

You don’t need everything at once. You need a focused approach that improves how customers find you, buy from you, and come back.

Businesses that get this right will not just survive – they will grow faster, operate more efficiently, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital market.

This was disclosed by Lamide Akinola, general manager, Glovo Nigeria, during the 2025 Future of Commerce Summit held in Lagos.

The event brought together restaurant operators, policymakers, ecosystem leaders, fintech pioneers, and investors to explore the evolving e-commerce landscape in Nigeria.

Akinola stated that since its launch in Nigeria in 2017, Glovo has invested over €200 million in building and optimising its delivery infrastructure across Africa.

The platform currently partners with over 6,000 restaurants and retail outlets, supported by a network of over 2,400 active delivery riders.

She noted that quick commerce recorded remarkable growth in 2024, becoming the fastest-growing segment with a 76% increase, highlighting Glovo’s pivotal role in accelerating digital retail adoption.

Akinola further pointed to a significant shift in user transaction preferences. Cash payments dropped from 88% of all orders in 2021 to just 39% today, a 55% decline, aligning with the federal government’s push for a cashless economy.

“This shift aligns with the government’s effort to promote a cashless economy and highlights Glovo’s contribution to advancing financial inclusion in Nigeria.

“As we look ahead, our focus remains on enabling restaurant partners and shops to scale through data, logistics, and financial inclusion.”

Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Lagos state commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, reiterated the state’s focus on supporting innovative platforms like Glovo.

She described Lagos’ future as people-centered, digital, and inclusive, noting various ongoing government programs and strategic collaborations designed to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

In commemoration of World Pizza Day, Glovo, a multi-category app, has revealed insights into the consumption habits of one of Nigeria’s favorite meals, Pizza.

The data, which reflects the consumption habits of Nigerians in 2023, reveals an astonishing 1,222% increase in Pizza orders delivered via the Glovo app vs. 2022.

This catapults Nigeria to the fastest-growing country globally for Pizza consumption, followed by Tunisia and Armenia with 262% and 164% increase respectively.

In 2023, chicken-based Pizzas were heavily consumed, representing 44% of all deliveries. Notable shifts in consumer preferences were seen in specific Pizza recipes, with Pizza containing beef and sausages having a remarkable 14,471% and 4,141% surge, respectively.

Examining size preferences among Nigerians, “Large” Pizzas were favorites, accounting for 45% of total orders, while “Regular or “Medium” and “Small” sizes closely followed with 28% and 27%, respectively.

Glovo recorded the highest Pizza orders in 2023 on  Saturday, 28 October. On that day, Nigerians ordered x4 more pizza orders than the average Saturday in 2023.

In terms of cities, while Lagos dominated Pizza orders with a 57% share, the record for the most expensive pizza order, totalling NGN 136,240, was recorded in Abuja, Nigeria.

Commenting on Nigeria’s Pizza consumption trend, Lamide Akinola, general manager, Glovo Nigeria, expressed the company’s commitment to being the preferred choice for Nigerians in the multi-category app space.

“We’ve remained steadfast in our commitment to being the preferred choice for Nigerians. The wide variety of options available for this product, coupled with a 195% increase in pizza partners in 2023, underscores our support for SMEs,” she remarked.

With a commitment to providing the best services to its users, Glovo, remains a leading multi-category platform, ensuring Nigerians have seamless access to a world of diverse culinary delights.

• Glovo reveals trends and insights on pasta consumption in Nigeria.
• Nigeria witnessed a 320% increase in pasta units delivered via Glovo, marking it as the third-fastest-growing country in the world for pasta consumption behind Kyrgyzstan and Tunisia.
• In the past year, Glovo delivered one pasta dish every four minutes, unveiling the nation’s deep-seated love for this cherished Italian dish.

As the world comes together to celebrate World Pasta Day, Glovo, the leading multi-category app, has revealed insights into the consumption habits of one of Nigeria’s favorite meals, Pasta.

#WorldPastaDay

A report reveals that Nigeria witnessed a 320% increase in pasta units delivered, marking it as the third-fastest-growing country in the world for pasta consumption.@Glovo also witnessed a 173% surge in customers placing pasta orders, making Nigeria the leading… pic.twitter.com/TYMjbBsaf8

— Techeconomy (@TecheconomyNG) October 24, 2023

Amongst other interesting insights, the report reveals that Nigeria witnessed a 320% increase in pasta units delivered, marking it as the third-fastest-growing country in the world for pasta consumption.

A Year of Pasta Delight

In the last 12 months, Glovo has recorded an impressive delivery rate of one pasta dish every four minutes.

This data unveils the nation’s deep-seated love for this cherished dish. Glovo also witnessed a 173% surge in customers placing pasta orders, making Nigeria the leading country globally in terms of the frequency of pasta purchases.

Lunchtime takes the crown as the preferred time for pasta consumption among Nigerians. With a 27% increase compared to the global trend, 12 pm sees the highest pasta consumption, signifying a lunchtime affinity.

This is a unique difference from the global trend as pasta peaks during dinner hours, typically around 8 pm.

Pasta consumption is notably linear throughout the week, with Thursday emerging as the peak day, accounting for 16% of the weekly consumption. Interestingly, weekday consumption (Monday to Friday) surpasses weekend consumption by 28%.

In terms of cities, Lagos Island ranks first with 39% of the total pasta consumption (units) delivered via Glovo, followed by Lagos Mainland with 25%.

In the last 12 months, the Glovo customer who placed the most pasta orders in Nigeria is located in Lagos (Island), with a remarkable total of 144 orders. The most expensive pasta order placed was by a user on Glovo Bargain, the Glovo-owned supermarket, amounting to NGN 192,300.

Top 5 Most Consumed Pasta Recipes

Despite its Italian origins, pasta has captured the hearts of Nigerians with its taste and versatility. The top five most consumed pasta recipes in Nigeria include:

1. Stir-Fried Pasta (with Nigeria ranking #1 globally at 97% consumption)
2. Salad Pasta
3. Beef Pasta
4. Jollof Pasta (with Nigeria ranking #1 globally at 96% consumption)
5. Chicken Pasta

When it comes to pasta variety, Nigerians also demonstrate a particular fondness for spaghetti, covering 78% of all pasta consumed in the country. Nigeria leads the world in both the highest spaghetti share and purchase frequency. This data firmly establishes Nigeria as the world’s biggest fan of spaghetti on Glovo.

“We are thrilled to see the astounding growth in pasta consumption on our platform and delighted that our partnerships within the pasta category have thrived, with a 239% increase in partners offering pasta-related products. This partnership growth extends significantly to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) underscoring Glovo’s commitment to supporting local businesses. This reiterates our dedication to not only providing a wide range of options to our customers but also in nurturing and empowering local businesses. We believe that Glovo plays a vital role in connecting Nigerians with the flavors they love and in facilitating the growth of our partners, whether they’re established restaurants or emerging SMEs,” said Lamide Akinola, General Manager, Glovo Nigeria.

Join the Pasta Party

Restaurants including The Place, Chicken Republic, Sweet Sensation, Opvine, and Awoof Berekete are the top destinations for pasta orders in Nigeria.

This World Pasta Day, Glovo invites all Nigerians to indulge in the joy of pasta and discover the diverse pasta options available on the Glovo app.

Succeeding Lorenzo Mayol who has been reassigned as the Director of Brands for Glovo Sub-Saharan Africa, Lamide’s appointment took effect from July 1, 2023.

Lamide brings extensive industry and leadership experience, having worked across multiple markets in Africa over the last decade.

Her journey with Glovo began in 2021 where she served as the Head of Q-commerce for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a role where she demonstrated the capacity to lead the company to even greater heights as it continues to shape the future of retail in Africa.

In her capacity as the Head of Q-commerce SSA, she drove the growth of the company’s digital marketplace for groceries, health and retail and scaled the company’s dark stores (Glovo Bargains) across the region.

Commenting on the appointment, Executive Director, Regional General Manager for Glovo Africa, Diego Nouet said, “I am pleased to welcome Lamide to her new role where her skills as a resilient leader and strategist will take Glovo Nigeria to the next level.

“We are confident in Lamide’s ability to sustain and scale Glovo’s expansion and our continued growth in Nigeria.”

On her part, Lamide Akinola, General Manager for Glovo Nigeria said, “I am excited to continue to drive the growth of Glovo in Nigeria and strengthen the company’s positive impact on businesses and couriers in the country.

“Our mission at Glovo is to shape the future of retail by creating a simple, fast, and convenient experience for consumers who buy anything online, and I am excited to be a part of the incredible team that will help deliver this goal.”

Before joining Glovo, Lamide served as a consultant at McKinsey & Company and was responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive strategies for some of the largest companies in Africa & Europe. Lamide holds an MBA from Stanford University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from University College London (UCL).

With its self-service sign up feature, Glovo enjoins local businesses to partner, grow and manage their businesses by leveraging its digital platform.

Designed as a user-friendly and easy to navigate process, the self-service sign up feature presents three simple steps for businesses to partner with Glovo which includes providing context on the company, uploading the relevant menu/catalog as well as going through the onboarding process and finally start receiving orders.

The process is also complemented with support from a Glovo sales agent, to make onboarding smoother. With this, Glovo aims to inspire local SMEs to reach new consumers and increase their sales by encouraging the purchase of their products which will enhance the role of local production to boost the country’s economy.

“There are no doubts that SME industries are the mainstay of the national economy, providing employment opportunities and contributing to the wider economic growth.”, said Lorenzo Mayol, General Manager for Glovo Nigeria. “At Glovo, we aim to empower thousands of local businesses to go digital. Thanks to our integrated solutions, we want to become the best digital ally for local businesses because local entrepreneurs and economies matter to us.”

“Our offer for local businesses goes beyond delivery and has been designed for businesses to find all they need to increase sales, grow and manage their business. By partnering with Glovo, businesses are positioned to reap vast benefits ranging from having access to more customers and increased orders, to wider reach and visibility as we support our partners through a variety of marketing and communication initiatives, and always-on customer care support to ensure a great customer experience. Nigeria remains a key market for us due to its high and untapped potential and rapid growth, and our goal is to fulfill our vision to give everyone easy access to anything in their city.”, added Lorenzo Mayol.

Since the company’s launch in Nigeria in 2021, Glovo has over 1,500 active partners with 98% SMEs and 2% chains including leading local brands such as Gourmet Twist, Citysubs, So Fresh, and Beleful Republic to mention a few.

The company currently operates in Lagos, Abuja & Ibadan with plans to expand in the future. Existing partners enjoy swift delivery to customers and have recorded up to a 40% sales increase from online orders.

To build your online business with Glovo, register to become a partner here and begin your journey to digitalization.