By Abiodun JIMOH
Lagos today witnessed a defining double milestone for Africa’s digital economy as Saudat Salami, Nigeria’s trailblazing ecommerce pioneer, unveiled her debut book “Selling Pepper Online – How I Built Africa’s First Online Grocery Delivery Business and Lessons for Every Entrepreneur.”
The book launch coincided with the maiden Africa Ecommerce Summit, an annual platform Salami curated to shape policy, foster partnerships, and drive innovation across the continent’s digital trade ecosystem.
“Selling Pepper Online” captures Salami’s 20-year journey of building and scaling Easyshop Easycook, Nigeria’s first online grocery delivery business, before exiting in 2023. The book offers practical insights into ecommerce operations, customer habits, policy frameworks, and the resilience required to thrive as an African entrepreneur.
The summit, themed “Shaping Africa’s Ecommerce Future: Strategies for Growth, Collaboration, and Inclusion,” convened government agencies, investors, logistics firms, international partners, and digital innovators. Key panels addressed AfCFTA-driven ecommerce policy and the future of agri-food delivery, spotlighting how technology can unlock jobs, SME growth, and stronger food systems.
Salami, who now leads the Saudat Salami Foundation and consults across Africa’s digital economy, says the book and summit together serve one goal: empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening Africa’s ecommerce future.
