Google, on Wednesday, announced that Nigerians can now make payments on its Play Store using the local currency, naira.
This followed its partnership with Verve, the largest domestic card scheme in Africa, to make digital transactions on Google Play Store easier and more accessible for Nigerians.
With this new partnership, Google would process Verve transactions within Nigeria, and the transactions would be undertaken in naira and treated as local transactions by the country’s banking institutions. As of today, Nigerians can use their Verve cards to make purchases on the Google Play Store, strengthening the digital ecosystem in the country.
Commenting on the development, Head of Retail and Payment Partnerships, Google Play, Anthea Crawford, 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 Verve International, Vincent Ogbunude, added, “The integration with Google Play is a significant stride towards achieving Verve’s vision of promoting financial inclusion. We are excited to bring digital content and services closer to Verve cardholders, hence bridging the digital divide.”
The announcement comes as a relief for Nigerians buying apps from the Google Store. As a result, any Nigerian with an Android device and a Verve card now has a streamlined method for making purchases on the Google Play Store.
