A significant milestone has been announced by Google today, which will enable more Nigerians to participate in the app economy and access the apps they need. This is because Google has sealed a partnership with Verve, the largest domestic card scheme in Africa, to make digital transactions on Google Play Store easier and more accessible for Nigerians.
Nigerians can use their Verve cards to make purchases on the Google Play Store, strengthening the digital ecosystem in Nigeria. Under this new arrangement, Google will process Verve transactions within Nigeria. These transactions will be undertaken in Nigerian Naira (NG), and treated as local transactions by the country’s banking institutions. 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.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Verve, expanding Google Play access for more Nigerians. The introduction of local payments with Verve cards will enable more Nigerians to participate in the app economy and access the apps they need,” said Anthea Crawford, Head of Retail and Payment Partnerships, Google Play.
Also speaking about the partnership, Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director Verve International, noted that 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.
“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 said.
Here’s how to use your Verve card on Google Play: Open the Playstore, choose the app you want to buy, click “Buy,” and enter your Verve card details when asked. You can also go to pay.google.com, log in with your Gmail account, click on ‘Payment Methods,’ ‘Add Payment Method,’ enter your Verve card details and save. Then, return to the Playstore to make your purchase. Your card will be charged automatically.
This new partnership not only simplifies the payment process for Google Play Store apps and services but also contributes significantly to a more inclusive digital environment for Nigerians.