The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has introduced a new campus program aimed at strengthening student safety, security, and rider accountability while preserving access to convenient and affordable food delivery. As part of this initiative, UNILAG has selected Swoop as one of only two food delivery platforms approved to operate on campus. This move is in response to concerns about the growing number of unregistered delivery riders entering the university and the implications for security, student welfare, and campus orderliness.
Under the new system, food delivery access will be limited to a pool of registered and identifiable riders operating through the university's approved platforms. Swoop will work closely with the university's security unit to ensure that participating riders are registered, identifiable, and accountable. The company will also collaborate with the Dean of Student Affairs to ensure student welfare remains central to the program. This partnership reflects UNILAG's effort to balance two important needs: maintaining a safe and orderly campus while recognizing that food delivery has become an important convenience for many students.
The three-month pilot program will provide a framework for assessing how a managed food delivery system can strengthen campus security while preserving students' access to convenient and affordable food delivery. Swoop's operating model is designed to create value across the delivery ecosystem. Riders retain 100 percent of their delivery fees, while merchants benefit from lower platform fees, allowing them to retain more value from their orders. Restaurants can also access customers beyond their immediate locations through the platform.
Demola Adesina, Country Manager for Swoop and a UNILAG alum, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that the university has been clear that student safety and security are the priority, and Swoop shares that responsibility. Adesina emphasized that having studied at UNILAG himself, he is deeply invested in creating a solution that makes their campus safer and more convenient. Swoop's focus is on ensuring that every rider operating on campus is properly registered, identifiable, and accountable, while giving students continued access to convenient and affordable food delivery.
The partnership is also designed to give students a more transparent delivery experience. Through Swoop, customers can see applicable delivery and service charges before confirming an order and track their order in real-time from the restaurant to its destination. This level of transparency and accountability is expected to enhance the overall food delivery experience for students. By working closely with UNILAG, Swoop aims to demonstrate how technology and responsible delivery operations can work together to make food delivery safer and more accountable without sacrificing the convenience students value.
The partnership reflects Swoop's broader ambition to make on-demand delivery more accessible to more Nigerians. The company believes growing the market requires addressing not only affordability and pricing transparency but also the trust and accountability that consumers and institutions expect from delivery platforms. By being selected for the UNILAG program, Swoop sees an opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities and commitment to responsible delivery operations.
The three-month pilot program will be closely monitored, and its outcomes will inform future decisions about food delivery on campus. Key stakeholders, including students, riders, and merchants, will likely be engaged in the evaluation process to ensure that the program meets its objectives and makes necessary adjustments. Ultimately, the goal is to create a safer, more convenient, and more affordable food delivery experience for UNILAG students while setting a precedent for other institutions.
Key points
- UNILAG partners with Swoop to provide safer and more affordable food delivery for students
- The partnership aims to strengthen student safety, security, and rider accountability while preserving access to convenient and affordable food delivery
- The three-month pilot program will assess the effectiveness of the managed food delivery system in strengthening campus security and preserving students' access to convenient and affordable food delivery
