Ilorin Consumers Are Now Online: Why They Live There and What Local Businesses Must Do

Ilorin consumers are now online, and this shift is bigger than many business owners realise. Hello and welcome to another beautiful read. If you’re an entrepreneur, then you may need to read between the lines to get the most out of this article. Not yet an entrepreneur? Don’t scroll past. Now is the time to understand this shift.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the way consumers behave and shop has changed permanently both globally and locally.

While many expected consumers to go back to their old ways of consumer behaviours (pre-2020 habits), new data shows that consumers are not going back. One key shift in consumers in the last five years is the increase in alone time and online activity.

In a recent report released by McKinsey: State of the Consumer 2025: When disruption becomes permanent, one of the findings is that consumers are now spending more time engaging with digital content and making purchases online than ever before, especially after the pandemic.

Although the report focused on global trends, the only reason it resonates with Ilorin consumers is because the foundation of the research was COVID-19, a global crisis at the time, this shift is already playing out in places like Ilorin.

Therefore, as a business owner in Kwara State, it’s time to pay attention. If your customers are spending more time online, your business must meet them where they are.

Why Are People Spending More Time Online?

There are of course a variety of reasons for this. There are but not limited to remote work, mobile phones, and affordable internet bundles, the rise of delivery services has changed the pattern of daily life and your location, and Ilorin is not an exception.

Think about it: how many of your consumers, especially your Gen Z consumers, looking for fashion items would go to Taiwo or Tanke instead of checking WhatsApp status updates or IG posts? Even though some might later consider getting in a physical store, they would still check online first.

Another example to look into is rather than queueing at buka joints, the set of consumers would rather call or message for home delivery. No wonder we now have the likes of Chowdeck.

To establish this, according to McKinsey’s report, U.S. consumers reported three extra hours of free time per week, and 90% of that is spent on solo activities like browsing social media, shopping online, watching videos, or reading.

This growing “alone and online” culture also exists here. Your customers may not voice it, but their phones have become the new market square. They sleep and wake up there. Some even get dressed there. Remember Get Ready with Me (GRMV) video? Oh, you should remember that.

What Does This Mean for Your Businesses in Ilorin?

You may have to read this carefully. Whether you sell skincare, footwear, native wear, tech accessories, food, or knowledge, your business is competing with little or no competition on the street. Maybe You’re now competing on screens for customers with other competitors.

Here’s what that means:

1. Your Online Presence Is Your Real Shopfront

Having a store at Sango or Fate is great, but if you are not building your business online or your business page is inactive, you’re invisible to modern buyers. Ilorin consumers are increasingly using Instagram, WhatsApp, and even TikTok as discovery platforms.

You can even think of the students’ demographics and ask questions like “Does this demographic have the luxury of time to go to the physical market?” This will help you to come up with strategies to build your business online.

2. Digital Convenience Wins Loyalty

Ilorin consumers now appreciate convenience. If they can order suya, a cake, or even electronics without stepping out which they’re doing already, they’ll likely choose that option.

3. Customers Are Consuming Content Before They Buy

One of the interesting features of this set of consumers is that they don’t just stumble into purchases. They scroll, read reviews, ask friends, and stalk your page. So, your content must pre-sell to them even before they make the purchase. This means that you should create stories that show product use, testimonials, behind-the-scene and how-tos.

The Shift from Storefront to Storytelling

The truth is that the rise in digital activity has changed what consumers expect and engage in. That’s why, as a business owner, it’s no longer enough to say, “I sell.” You must show, tell, and engage your audience. Whether it’s through reels, memes, or a quick tweet, today’s consumers want to connect with your brand before your brand converts them.

Ilorin isn’t fully there yet but we’re not where we used to be. Our consumers might not buy from Amazon, but they sure buy from @Plush Impression or “That Food Plug” on WhatsApp.

Practical Steps for Local Business Owners

1. Audit your online platforms: Are your bios clear on IG or even on your website? Are your products visible? Is your WhatsApp Business page complete? If the answer is no, then you need to read this “How to Apply the Grunt Test for Social Media Page.“

2. Create content that reflects how your audience uses their time online: This is one of the reasons you need to understand your audience. What are they made up of? Think entertainment + education + relevance.

3. Get feedback and act on it: Pay attention to which posts got the most engagement. Rinse and repeat. What product do people ask about often? Dwell more on that.

4. Build systems and be consistent: You may not necessarily have to sleep and wake up online. Systems can help you achieve the workload of building a business online. When systems are in place, consistency becomes easy. The more active you are online, the more visible you become in your consumer’s mind.

Conclusion

Get this in your mind now that Ilorin consumers are now online, and your business has to catch up with them where they are. Whether you sell fashion items in Tanke or pastries in Oke-Odo,  your real storefront is no longer your physical shop, it’s your digital presence. Consumers now scroll before they shop, swipe before they step out, and search before they spend. The earlier you come up higher to adapt to this shift, the sooner your business becomes a familiar face in their feeds and their pockets