On Wednesday, Google made a significant announcement stating that Nigerians can now conduct transactions on its Play Store using the local currency, the naira. This development is the result of a collaboration with Verve, the largest domestic card scheme in Africa, aimed at enhancing accessibility and convenience for digital transactions on the Google Play Store for Nigerians.
Effective immediately, Nigerians can utilize their Verve cards to make purchases on the Google Play Store, bolstering the digital ecosystem in the country. This comes as a welcome relief for Nigerians as banks have been grappling with meeting customers’ forex demands for international payments, making it easier for them to buy apps from the Google Store.
Under this new arrangement, Google will handle Verve transactions within Nigeria, further streamlining the payment process for local users.
These transactions will be conducted in Nigerian Naira (NG) and will be recognized as local transactions by the country’s banking institutions.
Consequently, any Nigerian with an Android device and a Verve card now has a simplified process for making purchases on the Google Play Store, further enriching the app economy.
Anthea Crawford, Head of Retail and Payment Partnerships at Google Play, commented on this advancement. He said:
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Verve, expanding Google Play access for more Nigerians. The introduction of local payments with Verve cards is a significant milestone, enabling more Nigerians to participate in the app economy and access the apps they need.”
The Managing Director of Verve International, Vincent Ogbunude, in his view, stated that the collaboration with Google Play is a significant stride towards achieving Verve’s vision of promoting financial inclusion.
He said:
“We are excited to bring digital content and services closer to Verve cardholders, hence bridging the digital divide. As a foremost payment card scheme in Nigeria, Verve’s expanding acceptance promotes inclusion by extending the reach of digital services to a larger segment of the Nigerian population. Maximizing this exciting possibility, users can now add their Verve Cards to their Google Play Account and pay in Naira, without stress”
He also said that the new partnership eases the payment process for Google Play Store apps and services, and contributes significantly to a more inclusive digital environment for Nigerians at large.
