Talk:Jiji Africa
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Swap
can I exchange my 12 Pro Max for an S67 Plus portable 75W Zealot. 102.90.103.174 (talk) 15:34, 26 November 2024 (UTC)
location
Is it really Headquarters in Warsaw , Poland? Rathfelder (talk) 15:03, 28 April 2026 (UTC)
Edit request from disclosed paid editor, full rewrite
 | This edit request by an editor with a conflict of interest was declined. Some or all of the changes weren't supported by neutral, independent, reliable sources. Consider re-submitting with content based on media, books and scholarly works. |
I am a disclosed paid editor for Jiji (see the connected-contributor notice on this page and the {{paid}} disclosure on my user page). I have prepared a full, sourced rewrite of this article in my userspace sandbox:
Extended content |
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The current article is largely unsourced, carries several citation needed tags, and relies on dead references (Alexa rankings, discontinued in 2022; a Leadbolt marketing blog; bare SimilarWeb links). The draft replaces these with independent secondary sources (TechCrunch, TechCabal, Nairametrics, Vanguard, The Business Standard, bne IntelliNews, Future Startup) and follows the structure of comparable marketplace articles such as OLX and Mercado Libre. Summary of changes:
Specifically, I am requesting that the entire body of the current article (from the lead through the external links) be replaced with the verbatim content of User:Moriartyxy/Jiji, which is ready to be copied in full. I have kept it in the sandbox rather than pasting the full wikitext here because of its length, but I am happy to paste the complete markup directly into this request if a reviewer prefers. On the headquarters question raised above by Rathfelder: the most recent secondary source I found (TechCabal, May 2026) describes Jiji as "Lagos-headquartered". I have kept Warsaw in the infobox as the company's current operating base, but I have no independent secondary source stating this explicitly, so reviewers should feel free to set the headquarters to Lagos if they prefer the sourced description. I flag this openly rather than leave it ambiguous. |
Per WP:COI I am not editing the live article directly and am requesting that an uninvolved editor review the draft and, if appropriate, implement it. I am happy to adjust any wording reviewers find promotional. Thank you. Moriartyxy (talk) 09:55, 2 June 2026 (UTC)
Reply 23-JUN-2026
Edit request declined
- The proposed draft contains references from TechCrunch and PRNewswire. (See WP:TECHCRUNCH, WP:PRNEWSWIRE.)
Regards, Spintendo 04:20, 24 June 2026 (UTC)
Edit request from disclosed paid editor, re-submission after 24 June decline
 | The user below has a request that an edit be made to Jiji Africa. That user has an actual or apparent conflict of interest. The requested edits backlog is very high. Please be extremely patient. There are currently 665 requests waiting for review. Please read the instructions for the parameters used by this template for accepting and declining them, and review the request below and make the edit if it is well sourced, neutral, and follows other Wikipedia guidelines and policies. |
Re-submitting after the 24 June decline by Spintendo, with the sourcing issues addressed.
- All PR Newswire citations removed (2), per WP:RSP.
- All TechCrunch citations removed (3), per WP:ORGIND: the underlying coverage of funding and acquisitions originates from company announcements and is therefore not independent of the subject.
- Three statements that relied solely on those sources have been deleted rather than re-sourced, including a self-serving 2019 statement by a co-founder about fraud rates. No claim in the draft now rests on a removed source.
- Headquarters changed to Lagos per TechCabal, replacing the previous unsourced value.
- The full wikitext is included below rather than linked, so there is no need to open the sandbox.
I am a disclosed paid editor for Jiji and am not editing the article directly. Happy to adjust or drop any wording reviewers find promotional. Moriartyxy (talk) 16:17, 27 July 2026 (UTC)
Proposed replacement wikitext |
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{{Short description|Online classifieds marketplace in Africa and South Asia}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Jiji
| logo =
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = {{hlist|[[Online classifieds]]|[[E-commerce]]}}
| founded = 2014; [[Lagos]], [[Nigeria]]
| founders = Anton Volianskyi<br />Vladimir Mnogoletniy
| hq_location_city = [[Lagos]]
| hq_location_country = Nigeria
| area_served = {{hlist|Nigeria|Kenya|Ghana|Uganda|Tanzania|Ethiopia|Senegal|Côte d'Ivoire|Republic of the Congo|Bangladesh}}
| key_people = {{plainlist|
* Anton Volianskyi ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
* Vladimir Mnogoletniy (board chairman)
}}
| products = Online classifieds; mobile application
| services = {{hlist|Vehicles|Real estate|Electronics|Jobs|Services}}
| subsidiaries = {{hlist|[[Cars45]]|Tonaton|Bikroy}}
| website = {{URL|jiji.africa}}
}}
'''Jiji''', also known as '''Jiji Africa''', is one of the largest [[online classifieds]] marketplaces in Africa, with operations across nine African countries and in Bangladesh.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" /><ref name="bne-bikroy-2026" /> Founded in 2014 in [[Lagos]], [[Nigeria]], it connects private buyers and sellers in categories that include vehicles, real estate, electronics, fashion, jobs and services.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" />
The platform was co-founded within the Ukrainian technology group [[Genesis (company)|Genesis]] by Anton Volianskyi, its [[chief executive officer]], and Genesis co-founder Vladimir Mnogoletniy.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" /><ref name="ain-seriesc-2019" /> Jiji grew through a series of acquisitions, taking over the African operations of [[OLX]] in 2019, the used-car marketplace [[Cars45]] in 2021, the Ghanaian platform Tonaton in 2022, and the Bangladeshi platform Bikroy in 2026.<ref name="nairam-olx-2019" /><ref name="tcb-cars45-2021" /><ref name="bft-tonaton-2022" /><ref name="tcb-bikroy-2026" />
By 2026 Jiji served more than 90 million annual users and reported approximately US$70 billion in annual listing value across its platforms, figures the company has not had independently audited.<ref name="fs-bikroy-2026" /><ref name="bne-bikroy-2026" /> It is regarded as one of the leading marketplace platforms in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]].<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" /><ref name="bne-bikroy-2026" />
== History ==
=== Founding and early growth (2014–2018) ===
Jiji was founded in 2014 in [[Lagos]], Nigeria, within the Ukrainian technology group [[Genesis (company)|Genesis]]. Anton Volianskyi joined as operating co-founder and chief executive officer, and Genesis co-founder Vladimir Mnogoletniy backed the venture and chairs its board.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" /><ref name="ain-seriesc-2019" /> The platform launched as a free classifieds website for the Nigerian market, covering vehicles, household goods, mobile phones, electronics, jobs and services.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" />
In 2016, [[Bharti Airtel|Airtel]] Nigeria began a partnership that gave its subscribers free mobile-data access to Jiji.<ref name="innov-airtel-2016" /> In 2017, Jiji received a [[Nigeria Internet Registration Association]] (NIRA) ".ng" award for "Most Innovative Online Service of the Year" and was a finalist at the West Africa Mobile Awards.<ref name="nira-2017" /><ref name="bizcom-wamas-2017" />
=== Acquisition of OLX Africa and Series C (2019) ===
In April 2019, Jiji acquired the African classifieds operations of [[OLX]] in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania from the [[Naspers]]-owned OLX Group, expanding from a single market to five in one transaction; financial terms were not disclosed.<ref name="nairam-olx-2019" /><ref name="olxgroup-2019" /> In December 2019, Jiji raised US$21 million in a Series C round led by the [[Abu Dhabi]]-based investor Knuru Capital, bringing total capital raised since 2014 to about US$50 million.<ref name="ain-seriesc-2019" />
=== Expansion and diversification (2020–2022) ===
Jiji launched in Ethiopia in 2020.<ref name="ebr-ethiopia-2020" /> In June 2021, it acquired the used-vehicle marketplace [[Cars45]], which operated in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana, moving the company from horizontal classifieds into transactional automotive retail; terms were not disclosed.<ref name="tcb-cars45-2021" /><ref name="nairam-cars45-2021" /> In September 2021, Jiji rebranded under the slogan "Because Deals Can Be Easy", and Cars45 was rebranded as Jiji Cars in 2022.<ref name="nairam-rebrand-2021" /><ref name="bday-jijicars-2022" /> In February 2022, Jiji acquired Tonaton, a Ghanaian classifieds platform previously operated by [[Saltside Technologies]], and launched country sites in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.<ref name="ain-tonaton-2022" /><ref name="bft-tonaton-2022" />
=== Expansion into Asia and the Bikroy acquisition (2025–2026) ===
In March 2025, Jiji opened its first major market outside Africa, launching organically in Bangladesh.<ref name="tbs-bd-2025" /><ref name="tcb-bd-2025" /><ref name="daba-bd-2025" /> Jiji launched in the [[Republic of the Congo]] in 2025.<ref name="bne-bikroy-2026" />
On 12 May 2026, Jiji acquired Bikroy, described as Bangladesh's largest classifieds platform, from [[Saltside Technologies]], its second acquisition from that company after Tonaton and its first outside Africa; terms were not disclosed.<ref name="tcb-bikroy-2026" /><ref name="fs-bikroy-2026" /><ref name="bne-bikroy-2026" /> Bikroy, founded in 2012, reported around 400,000 monthly buyers, 100,000 monthly sellers and roughly US$3 billion in annual gross merchandise value at the time of the deal.<ref name="fs-bikroy-2026" /> Reporting characterised Jiji's approach as a "compete-then-buy" strategy of entering markets organically before consolidating leading rivals.<ref name="tcb-bikroy-2026" /><ref name="bne-bikroy-2026" />
=== Acquisitions ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Acquisitions by Jiji
! Date !! Target !! Market !! Acquired from !! Terms
|-
| April 2019 || OLX (African operations) || Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania || OLX Group ([[Naspers]]) || Undisclosed
|-
| June 2021 || [[Cars45]] || Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana || OLX Autos / Frontier Car Group || Undisclosed
|-
| February 2022 || Tonaton || Ghana || [[Saltside Technologies]] || Undisclosed
|-
| May 2026 || Bikroy || Bangladesh || [[Saltside Technologies]] || Undisclosed
|}
== Operations ==
=== Business model ===
Jiji operates as a horizontal online classifieds marketplace on which private individuals and registered businesses post listings in categories such as vehicles, real estate, electronics, mobile phones, home appliances, fashion, jobs and services.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" /> Basic listings are free, and the company earns revenue from premium placement and seller services; in Bangladesh it introduced a performance-based pricing model under which sellers pay when shoppers click their listings.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" /><ref name="fs-bikroy-2026" /> Jiji offers applications for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]] alongside its websites, with much of its traffic coming from mobile devices.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" />
=== Scale ===
According to figures the company has reported, Jiji's annual transaction value exceeded US$10 billion in 2023, with more than six million active listings, 65 million unique visitors and a staff base of over 1,000 that year.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" /><ref name="aim-10b-2024" /> By 2026 the company reported more than 90 million annual users and approximately US$70 billion in annual listing value across its platforms. These are company estimates that have not been independently audited.<ref name="fs-bikroy-2026" /><ref name="bne-bikroy-2026" />
=== Platform integrity ===
As with other open classifieds platforms, third parties have at times attempted to misuse the service, and in 2025 ''[[The Punch]]'' reported that the Jiji brand had been impersonated on messaging apps, after which the company reiterated that it communicates only through its official channels.<ref name="punch-scams-2025" />
=== Subsidiaries and brands ===
* '''[[Cars45]]''', used-vehicle marketplace acquired in 2021 and rebranded Jiji Cars in 2022, operating in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.<ref name="tcb-cars45-2021" /><ref name="bday-jijicars-2022" />
* '''Tonaton''', Ghanaian classifieds platform acquired in 2022.<ref name="bft-tonaton-2022" />
* '''Bikroy''', Bangladeshi classifieds platform acquired in 2026 and operated under its own brand.<ref name="fs-bikroy-2026" />
== Markets ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Jiji country operations (2026)
! Country !! Launch !! Brand(s) !! Entry method
|-
| Nigeria || 2014 || Jiji.ng || Founding market
|-
| Kenya || 2019 || Jiji.co.ke || OLX Africa acquisition
|-
| Ghana || 2019; 2022 || Jiji.com.gh, Tonaton || OLX Africa acquisition; Tonaton acquisition
|-
| Uganda || 2019 || Jiji.ug || OLX Africa acquisition
|-
| Tanzania || 2019 || Jiji.co.tz || OLX Africa acquisition
|-
| Ethiopia || 2020 || Jiji.com.et || Organic launch
|-
| Senegal || 2022 || Jiji.sn || Organic launch
|-
| Côte d'Ivoire || 2022 || Jiji.co.ci || Organic launch
|-
| Republic of the Congo || 2025 || Jiji.cg || Organic launch
|-
| Bangladesh || 2025; 2026 || Bikroy.com || Organic entry; Bikroy acquisition
|}
== Corporate structure ==
Jiji was co-founded within the Ukrainian technology group [[Genesis (company)|Genesis]] and has been described in reporting as a Genesis portfolio company.<ref name="ain-seriesc-2019" /><ref name="devua-genesis-2026" /> Co-founder Vladimir Mnogoletniy, also a co-founder of Genesis, chairs the board, while Anton Volianskyi has been chief executive officer since the company was founded in 2014.<ref name="tcb-10b-2024" />
=== Cars45 leadership changes (2020) ===
[[Cars45]], the used-vehicle business Jiji acquired in 2021, had earlier been the subject of an unrelated corporate dispute. In September 2020, before the acquisition, eleven senior executives left the company following a change of control, which reporting attributed to a disagreement over equity arrangements.<ref name="tcb-cars45exit-2020" /><ref name="tcb-cars45exit2-2020" /> Former chief executive Etop Ikpe later founded the rival platform Autochek.<ref name="weetracker-autochek-2021" />
== Recognition ==
In 2017, Jiji received a [[Nigeria Internet Registration Association]] (NIRA) ".ng" award for "Most Innovative Online Service of the Year" and was a finalist in the Commerce and Retail category of the West Africa Mobile Awards.<ref name="nira-2017" /><ref name="bizcom-wamas-2017" /> In 2023, Jiji Nigeria was named Online Marketplace of the Year at the Nigeria Technology Awards.<ref name="vanguard-nita-2023" />
== See also ==
* [[OLX]]
* [[Jumia]]
* [[Online marketplace]]
* [[Classified advertising]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="ain-seriesc-2019">{{cite news |title=Project of Ukrainian Genesis raises $21M: African classifieds site Jiji |url=https://en.ain.ua/2019/12/11/jiji-of-ukrainian-genesis-raises-21m/ |work=AIN |date=11 December 2019 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="tcb-cars45-2021">{{cite news |title=Jiji acquires Cars45 as it expands beyond its classifieds model |url=https://techcabal.com/2021/06/28/jiji-acquires-cars45-as-it-expands-beyond-its-classifieds-model/ |work=TechCabal |date=28 June 2021 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="tcb-10b-2024">{{cite news |title=From zero to $10 billion annual transactions: How Jiji became one of Nigeria's e-commerce leaders |url=https://techcabal.com/2024/11/21/how-jiji-became-one-of-nigerias-e-commerce-leaders/ |work=TechCabal |date=21 November 2024 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="tcb-bikroy-2026">{{cite news |title=E-commerce platform Jiji acquires Bangladesh's Bikroy in first deal outside Africa |url=https://techcabal.com/2026/05/12/jiji-acquires-bikroy-bangladesh-startup/ |work=TechCabal |date=12 May 2026 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="tcb-bd-2025">{{cite news |title=Jiji online store to enter Bangladesh |url=https://techcabal.com/2025/03/27/jiji-online-store-to-enter-bangladesh/ |work=TechCabal |date=27 March 2025 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="aim-10b-2024">{{cite news |title=Jiji.Africa's annual transaction value exceeds $10B |url=https://aimgroup.com/2024/11/22/jiji-africas-annual-transaction-value-exceeds-10b/ |work=AIM Group |date=22 November 2024 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="nairam-olx-2019">{{cite news |title=Jiji acquires rival OLX as e-commerce startups continue to divest |url=https://nairametrics.com/2019/04/04/jiji-acquires-rival-olx-as-e-commerce-startups-continue-to-divest/ |work=Nairametrics |date=4 April 2019 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="nairam-cars45-2021">{{cite news |title=Jiji acquires Cars45 to create a new automotive retail experience for users in Africa |url=https://nairametrics.com/2021/06/28/jiji-acquires-cars45-to-create-a-new-automotive-retail-experience-for-users-in-africa/ |work=Nairametrics |date=28 June 2021 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="nairam-rebrand-2021">{{cite news |title=Jiji Africa rebrands to focus on customer satisfaction and ease of online shopping |url=https://nairametrics.com/2021/09/13/jiji-africa-rebrands-to-focus-on-customer-satisfaction-and-ease-of-online-shopping/ |work=Nairametrics |date=13 September 2021 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="bday-jijicars-2022">{{cite news |title=Jiji changes Cars45 name to Jiji Cars |url=https://businessday.ng/companies/article/jiji-changes-cars45-name-to-jiji-cars/ |work=BusinessDay |date=2022 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="olxgroup-2019">{{cite web |title=Jiji to welcome OLX users in Africa |url=https://www.olxgroup.com/news/jiji-to-welcome-olx-users-in-africa/ |publisher=OLX Group |date=2019 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="ain-tonaton-2022">{{cite news |title=Pan-African classifieds champion Jiji acquires Tonaton.com |url=https://en.ain.ua/2022/02/07/jiji-acquires-tonaton/ |work=AIN |date=7 February 2022 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="bft-tonaton-2022">{{cite news |title=Jiji acquires Tonaton.com, its main competitor in Ghana |url=https://thebftonline.com/2022/02/09/jiji-acquires-tonaton-com-its-main-competitor-in-ghana/ |work=Business and Financial Times |date=9 February 2022 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="fs-bikroy-2026">{{cite news |title=Jiji acquires Bikroy: Jiji's motivation, Bikroy's reason, and what it tells about the Bangladesh market |url=https://futurestartup.com/2026/05/14/jiji-acquires-bikroy-jijis-motivation-bikroys-reason-and-what-it-tells-about-the-bangladesh-market/ |work=Future Startup |date=14 May 2026 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="bne-bikroy-2026">{{cite news |title=Nigeria's Jiji acquires Bangladeshi classifieds platform peer Bikroy in first expansion deal outside Africa |url=https://new.intellinews.com/articles/nigeria-s-jiji-acquires-bangladeshi-classifieds-platform-peer-bikroy-in-first-expansion-deal-outside-africa-442571 |work=bne IntelliNews |date=13 May 2026 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="tbs-bd-2025">{{cite news |title=Africa's e-commerce leader Jiji to enter Bangladesh |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/africas-e-commerce-leader-jiji-enter-bangladesh-1093656 |work=The Business Standard |date=16 March 2025 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="daba-bd-2025">{{cite news |title=Jiji expands beyond Africa with Bangladesh e-commerce entry |url=https://dabafinance.com/en/news/jiji-expands-beyond-africa-with-bangladesh-e-commerce-entry |work=Daba Finance |date=28 March 2025 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="ebr-ethiopia-2020">{{cite news |title=Jiji enters Ethiopian e-commerce sector |url=https://ethiopianbusinessreview.net/jiji-enters-ethiopian-ecommerce/ |work=Ethiopian Business Review |date=2020 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="nira-2017">{{cite web |title=Winners of the .ng 2017 Awards |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828222241/http://www.nira.org.ng/images/pdf/Winners_of_ng_awards_2017.pdf |publisher=Nigeria Internet Registration Association |date=2017 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="bizcom-wamas-2017">{{cite news |title=West Africa Mobile Awards finalists announced |url=http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/412/78/161162.html |work=Bizcommunity |date=2017 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="vanguard-nita-2023">{{cite news |title=Digital transformation: Jiji emerges NiTA Online Marketplace of the Year |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/12/digital-transformation-jiji-emerges-nita-online-marketplace-of-the-year/ |work=Vanguard |date=December 2023 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="devua-genesis-2026">{{cite news |title=Genesis portfolio company expands beyond Africa: Jiji buys Bangladesh's largest marketplace Bikroy |url=https://dev.ua/en/news/genesis-1778644661 |work=dev.ua |date=May 2026 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="tcb-cars45exit-2020">{{cite news |title=11 senior execs dramatically leave Cars45 |url=https://techcabal.com/2020/09/03/top-execs-exit-cars45/ |work=TechCabal |date=3 September 2020 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="tcb-cars45exit2-2020">{{cite news |title=Making sense of the dramatic week at Cars45; an update |url=https://techcabal.com/2020/09/08/cars45-exit-update/ |work=TechCabal |date=8 September 2020 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="weetracker-autochek-2021">{{cite news |title=Cars45 vs Autochek |url=https://weetracker.com/2021/04/01/etop-ikpe-autochek-cars45-premium/ |work=WeeTracker |date=1 April 2021 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="innov-airtel-2016">{{cite news |title=Airtel partners Genesis to provide free access to Jiji.ng |url=http://innovation-village.com/airtel-partners-genesis-provide-free-access-naij-com-jiji-ng/ |work=Innovation Village |date=2016 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
<ref name="punch-scams-2025">{{cite news |title=How Nigerians fall victim to transnational remote job scams |url=https://punchng.com/how-nigerians-fall-victim-to-transnational-remote-job-scam/ |work=The Punch |date=2025 |access-date=27 July 2026}}</ref>
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