Google, a web search engine, announced on Wednesday that Nigerians can now make purchases on its Play Store using the Naira currency.
It had previously partnered with Verve, Africa’s largest domestic card programme, to make digital transactions on the Google Play Store easier and more accessible for Nigerians.
According to Google, Nigerians can now use their Verve cards to make purchases on the Google Play Store, thereby strengthening the country’s digital economy.
The announcement is reassuring to Nigerians who buy apps from the Google Play Store at a time when local banks are struggling to meet consumers’ demand for foreign currency to make international purchases.
Google will process Verve transactions within Nigeria under this new agreement.
These transactions will be conducted in Nigerian Naira (NG) and will be treated as domestic by the country’s banking institutions.
As a result, any Nigerian with an Android device and a Verve card now has a simplified method for making Google Play Store purchases.
The app economy is expanding.
Anthea Crawford, Head of Retail and Payment Partnerships at Google Play, commented on the development.
“We are excited to work with Verve to provide more Nigerians with access to Google Play.” The launch of local payments via Verve cards is a significant step forward, allowing more Nigerians to participate in the app economy and access the apps they require.”
According to Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director of Verve International, the integration with Google Play is a significant step towards Verve’s vision of promoting financial inclusion.
“We are thrilled to bring digital content and services to Verve cardholders, bridging the digital divide.” Verve’s expanding acceptance as a leading payment card scheme in Nigeria promotes inclusion by extending the reach of digital services to a larger segment of the Nigerian population. “To take advantage of this exciting opportunity, users can now add their Verve Cards to their Google Play Account and pay in Naira without worry,” he said.
He went on to say that the new partnership streamlines the payment process for Google Play Store apps and services and significantly contributes to a more inclusive digital environment for Nigerians.
