In the Hausa language, Kaomini loosely translates to “bring me…”. The platform was launched to promote financial and social inclusion. It is gradually carving its niche, attracting a growing number of merchants and customers.  

Kaomini is a virtual marketplace launched, in 2017, by Niger Poste, the public postal service operator in Niger. It enables merchants to sell products using unconventional channels.  It also enables populations to purchase various products without having to travel. 

"Kaomini has vouched to meet the needs of Suppliers who don't have the means to travel to exhibit their products internationally. [...] On Kaomini, products are ordered online via handheld devices. To order, [buyers] need to first set up an account [...] to secure the merchant’s products on our e-commerce site,” says Nasser Salifou Seyni, operations manager at Kaomini.

The solution currently has an Android app. Once registered, buyers can log in and directly access the various products available on the marketplace, such as groceries, food supplements, livestock, and more. It is also possible to order meals in restaurants or send laundry to the dry cleaner.

To back Kaomini, Niger Poste has set up a delivery service and has around a hundred relay points throughout the country to facilitate various commercial transactions. Payment can be made on delivery or via the site's integrated payment methods. Among others, buyers can opt for mobile money solutions or bank cards.

The platform claims between 70 and 80 orders per month. In the medium term, Niger Poste aims to cover around 50% of the national territory. What's more, most of the products marketed on the platform are "Made in Niger", which facilitates access to the specialties of remote regions by residents in major cities.

Adoni Conrad Quenum