This week, the Nigerian business community had to bear the news of the demise of another business enterprise, OLX, after several ailing months. According to reports, Naspers, owners of OLX, wants it to shut down operations in all African countries except South Africa.
OLX to shut offices in Kenya and Nigeria https://t.co/vBIdq3m2tq pic.twitter.com/ktMtwlPXxJ
— BusinessDaily (@BD_Africa) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/Atanasi_/status/961122816736333824
OLX is a classifieds listing website. It has a presence in over 30 countries and began operations in Nigeria in 2012. It had been the major player in the Nigerian market until competition from Jiji.ng became fierce.
https://twitter.com/andrewfootie/status/961883278323134464
So, OLX joins the list of many others. OLX’s shutdown is similar to the shutdown of another popular classified website: Efritin.com. Efritin shutdown its operations in Nigeria in 2017. Recall that GoMyWay was pronounced dead in 2017.
It's depressing thinking of starting your own business when companies like OLX, Efritin and Konga are giving up the ghost
— Uncle Efe | 20:10:2020 (@HL_Blue) February 8, 2018
Is Sim Shagaya a hero?
Konga is another e-commerce giant that was has struggled to stay afloat. Zinox group took possession of Konga recently after months of negotiations. According to some sources, Konga was sold for just $10 million, which is a significant loss in value from its previous valuation two years prior to about $100 million.
Update
Merger and Acquisition.
Zinox, Parent company of Yudala, buys Konga for $10 million.— Olúwatósìn Olaseinde (@tosinolaseinde) February 3, 2018
So, many have seen the chicken coming home to roost.
The slide I was using 3years ago predicting the real winner of Konga/Jumia fight will be Yudala, unless they change their strategy. #justsaying Zinox Acquires Konga in Landmark Industry Deal https://t.co/Hiv8ia3WyN pic.twitter.com/Pzoe3EcY7G
— Marek Zmyslowski (@marekchinedu) February 3, 2018
Konga down
Jumia and Payporte are struggling
The unprofitability of the online market/E-commerce in Nigeria is a very interesting case study of why sound business strategy MUST be local
— Emmanuel Nwachukwu (@EmmaNwachukwu_) February 3, 2018
Just as the story of the acquisition simmered down, the social media court of verdict focused on the founder, Sim Shagaya.
I wish you success with @ShopKonga, @LeostanEkeh. Here's to new beginnings!
— Sim Shagaya (@SimShagaya) February 3, 2018
For many, Sim’s respect is still intact. After all, he only made a try.
Let it be said that Sim Shagaya fought till the end.
He built something.
He didn't sleep on his dreams.
He built something great
He gave competitors a run for their money— Olúwatósìn Olaseinde (@tosinolaseinde) February 4, 2018
@Simshagaya is one of the biggest contributors to the NG tech space as we know it today | He literally changed the game| He raised > $80m in Nigeria | He made developers valuable by building out his tech team in lagos| He opened doors for others| Most of all he made us BELIEVE
— Honey Ogundeyi (@HoneyOgundeyi) February 7, 2018
To some others, he is very wrong and maybe overrated. What do you think?
SpaceX’s Bold Space Invasion!
This week, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon Heavy rocket into space.
More photos from Falcon Heavy's first flight → https://t.co/095WHX44BX pic.twitter.com/6vlXJoYif0
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 7, 2018
And, it was a landmark day for SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, and his innovative company. After all, launching rockets or into space was majorly conducted by governments, not private firms.
Falcon Heavy side cores have landed at SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 and 2. pic.twitter.com/oMBqizqnpI
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 6, 2018
Just in case you did not know, it was a global event. The live video for the rocket’s launch was watched by more than 2.3 million people before the stream was cut off.
Some views of #Starman from @SpaceX live feed on YouTube pic.twitter.com/oOP2oTdc7z
— Marty McGuire (@BackyrdAstroGuy) February 6, 2018
The event was a first of many sorts. The SpaceX is the only company to perfect the technique of safely detaching and reusing the boosters. So, ladies and gentlemen. We have a car in Space!
In case there is someone out there who cared to read..
This was printed on the circuit board of a car sent to the deep space
📷: @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/5CNQA9WLaL— David Afolayan (@aforisms_) February 7, 2018
Panic Builds as Bitcoin Crashes Below $6,000
According to BBC, the price of Bitcoin has fallen to $5,947.40 (£4,256.44) on Tuesday. It reports that the latest fall comes a day after several major US and UK banks banned customers from using credit cards to purchase the digital currency.
As expected Bitcoin now crashes below $6000. Now the $5K handle is reached. And the US Congressional Hearing on Crypto-Scams is still a day away. HODL nuts will hold their melting Bitcoins all the way down to ZERO while scammers and whales dump and run…
— Nouriel Roubini (@Nouriel) February 6, 2018
This is the most recent outgrowth of many government Legislations that have attempted to cripple the crypto-currency.
bitcoin down below 6000, a drop of >70% in a little over a month pic.twitter.com/jT1TYblIHC
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) February 6, 2018
That marked a fall of more than half from a peak of almost $20,000 hit in December.
Bitcoin less than 2 months ago: 20,000 $.
Bitcoin today: 6000 $.
— Not A Disgruntled Employee (extremely gruntled) (@Ternz) February 6, 2018
Our hearts are with owners of the BC although it seems the cryptocurrency is regaining some might:
today is Friday, 9 February 2018 and the time is 19:0:2, and bitcoin price is $8,257.6000
— test bot arzee (@testbotarzee) February 9, 2018
And, have a great weekend ahead friends.
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