Koo, an Indian microblogging and social networking app, has
launched its operation in Nigeria.
Aprameya Radhakrishna, co-founder and chief executive
officer of Koo, announced the entry of the app into the Nigerian market at a
media briefing on Tuesday.
The development comes two months after the federal
government suspended Twitter operations in Nigeria.
The government had alleged that Twitter was being used to
undermine “Nigeria’s corporate existence”.
Less than a week after suspending Twitter operations, the
federal government opened an official account on Koo.
Speaking at the launch, Radhakrishna said Koo is aimed at
enabling Nigerians to express themselves in the digital space.
He said the application, which was launched in 2020, allows
users to share personal updates and opinions across numerous topics of interest
in 400 characters.
The Koo co-founder said the microblogging app has since
amassed a user base of over seven million people since its launch, with seven
Indian languages as well as English currently available on the platform in
India.
Radhakrishna said Koo’s primary goal is freedom of
expression, describing it as a platform that supports and promotes language
diversity whilst offering users a safe space for respectful and meaningful
conversations.
“When we launched Koo, our aim was to give users a platform,
where opinions can be expressed freely irrespective of the languages one
knows,” he said.
“We want users to be able to interact in the language of
their choice with some of the most incisive minds on the internet, whilst
keeping engagement respectful and harmonious.
“Users can engage in
conversations across multiple topics using some of our varied features,
including hashtags, a rich 400-character limit, dedicated buttons to share
posts across other social media platforms, among several others.”
Radhakrishna expressed Koo’s delight at the opportunity to
launch in Nigeria, citing the country’s rich cultural diversity as an impetus
for entering the market.
According to him, Koo will soon be available in multiple
local languages, including Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and Pidgin English.
“Nigeria is a country with a rich cultural background and
heritage. While it is an English-speaking country, we feel it is important for
the people to be able to communicate in their local language in the digital
space which will further enrich the local culture of Nigeria,” he said.
“Working with
Nigerian people, Koo has been able to appreciate the historical and cultural
nuances of the country. We would encourage a positive attitude on the platform,
making us partners in progress.”
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