In a country where inflation continues to stretch the wallets of consumers and small businesses struggle to stay visible, Glovo is quietly engineering a digital revolution. The global tech-powered delivery platform isn’t just bringing food to Nigerian doorsteps — it’s rebuilding how commerce happens, one local store at a time.
At the heart of this transformation lies the Glovo Academy, a learning and development initiative that’s reshaping the DNA of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Through in-person workshops, digital learning tools, and financial literacy programmes, Glovo is equipping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to think, act, and scale like 21st-century businesses.
“Every merchant onboarded onto Glovo contributes to the local economy,” a Glovo representative explained. “By digitising their operations and giving them the right tools, we help them reach more customers and grow sustainably.”
Driving Affordability Through Transparency
In a period where prices are fluctuating across markets, affordability has become a key concern for Nigerian consumers. Glovo’s answer is transparency and choice.
Through its app, users can compare prices across restaurants and stores before placing an order — a feature that not only fosters competition but also gives consumers control over how much they spend.
Additionally, Glovo Prime, the company’s monthly subscription service, offers unlimited free deliveries for ₦1,999 — a loyalty programme designed to soften the impact of rising logistics costs. Beyond that, Glovo is introducing a dedicated category of affordable meals under specific price thresholds, ensuring users can always find budget-friendly options right from the home screen.
“Our platform wasn’t built to increase costs; it was built to empower choice,” the company noted. “We believe affordability and convenience can coexist.”
SME Empowerment: The Real Growth Engine
While convenience fuels the customer experience, SME empowerment drives the company’s long-term mission. Glovo’s platform offers small businesses a scalable route to millions of digital customers — no physical expansion or heavy investment required.
For many informal entrepreneurs, Glovo represents their first digital storefront, and the impact has been profound. On average, local stores report a 25–30% increase in sales after joining the platform. But Glovo’s support doesn’t end with exposure — the company also provides access to powerful data dashboards showing sales performance, customer preferences, and product trends.
These insights enable entrepreneurs to make smarter decisions about pricing, inventory, and location expansion — something previously available only to large corporations.
“Data is the new oil,” Glovo said. “And through our ecosystem, small businesses now have access to that power without needing to build it themselves.”
Hands-On Support and Financial Access
Each Glovo partner is assigned a dedicated account manager, acting as both a strategist and operational guide. These managers help businesses refine menus, set optimal pricing, and enhance visibility on the platform. They also use Glovo’s analytics tools to drive performance improvements that convert digital presence into consistent revenue.
Beyond mentorship, Glovo is opening doors to financial inclusion. Through a partnership with Salad Africa, partner businesses can access affordable loans, helping them manage liquidity and scale operations more confidently.
Technology at the Core
Behind every order delivered in minutes lies a complex network powered by AI, automation, and logistics intelligence. Glovo’s system dynamically assigns riders, optimises delivery routes, and ensures users can track their orders in real time.
Artificial intelligence plays a critical role, from predicting demand patterns to personalising user experiences. These backend automations keep operations efficient, reduce delivery times, and ensure seamless communication between customers, stores, and couriers.
“We are a technology company first,” Glovo’s leadership often emphasizes. “Technology is what connects the dots between transparency, affordability, and efficiency.”
Growing Amid Uncertainty
Despite the challenging economy, Glovo’s expansion in Nigeria has remained swift and strategic. Operating in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, the company plans to deepen its presence in existing markets before exploring new territories. The goal, it says, is not just growth — but sustainable scale.
“Nigeria’s food delivery market is still vastly underpenetrated,” the company observed. “We’re not replacing home cooking; we’re offering convenience where it’s needed most.”
A Social Mission Beyond Delivery
Glovo’s impact goes beyond commerce. Through partnerships with NGOs like the Lagos Food Bank, the company redistributes cancelled or surplus meals to vulnerable communities, supporting up to 10,000 meal donations monthly.
In 2025 alone, the company has supported over 1,500 local stores with training, financial literacy workshops (in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre, Lagos Business School), and access to affordable financing. For couriers, Glovo provides continuous learning platforms in areas like digital marketing, languages, and professional skills, helping them grow beyond the gig economy.
This 360-degree approach — supporting merchants, couriers, and communities — defines what Glovo calls its “inclusive growth model.”
The Road Ahead: Five Years into the Future
When asked what success means, Glovo’s answer is simple but profound: serving every player in its ecosystem better — customers, stores, and riders alike.
Looking ahead, the company envisions a Nigeria where every business is digitised, every entrepreneur has access to real-time data, and every customer can get whatever they need — affordably, transparently, and within minutes.
“Our vision,” Glovo concludes, “is not just to deliver goods — but to deliver opportunities.”
