{{short description|Nigerian digital news platform}} {{Infobox website | name = Legit.ng | logo = Legit.ng logo.svg | type = News, entertainment, politics | foundation = {{Start date and age|2012}} | location_city = Lagos | location_country = Nigeria | area_served = Nigeria | programming_language = HTML, CSS, JavaScript | num_employees = 60 | language = English, Hausa | registration = None | launch_date = 2012 | current_status = Active | logo_size = 200px | url = {{URL|https://www.legit.ng/}} }} '''Legit.ng''' (formerly '''Naij.com'''), also known as '''Legit News''', is a Nigerian digital media and news platform run by Naij.com Media Limited, part of Legit (ex-GMEM).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.oasdom.com/top-21-popular-blogs-nigeria-2017/|title=[Latest] Top 21 Blogs In Nigeria 2018 Popular Nigeria Blogs|date=2017-08-29|website=Oasdom|access-date=2018-11-09|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.legit.ng/1198754-naij-upgrades-legitng.html|title=NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng|last=Okuku|first=Mitchelle|date=2018-10-24|access-date=2018-11-02|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105012558/https://www.legit.ng/1198754-naij-upgrades-legitng.html|url-status=dead|newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref>
It was ranked as the #1 news and entertainment platform and the seventh overall most visited website in Nigeria by Alexa Internet in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/NG | title=Top Sites in Nigeria | publisher=Alexa Internet | access-date=2018-11-20 | archive-date=2020-04-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425221116/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/NG | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/legit.ng|title=Legit.ng Traffic, Demographics and Competitors|access-date=2018-11-20|archive-date=2018-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120221052/https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/legit.ng|url-status=dead|newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref> Legit.ng is the biggest publisher on Facebook by the audience in the 'Media' category.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.socialbakers.com/statistics/facebook/pages/total/nigeria/media/|title=Facebook stats of popular Media pages in Nigeria|website=Socialbakers.com|access-date=2018-11-09}}</ref>
== History == Founded in 2012, Legit.ng has its headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria and launched an editorial hub in the country’s capital, Abuja, in May 2015. Legit.ng is a partner of Legit (ex-GMEM), a global media holding, which also cooperates with Tuko.co.ke (in Kenya), Yen.com.gh (in Ghana), Briefly News (in South Africa) and Sports Brief (worldwide).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://roem.ru/19-07-2017/255239/ukrane-africa/|title=Почему украинские медийщики решили, что проще зарабатывать деньги в Африке и на Филиппинах → Roem.ru|date=2017-07-19|access-date=2017-10-23|language=ru-RU}}</ref>
In May 2014, Legit.ng released an Android mobile app.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.naij.android|title=NAIJ Legit.ng: Nigeria News Breaking & Trending - Apps on Google Play|website=play.google.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-13}}</ref> It soon became #1 in its category in Nigeria and was featured by Google Play Market. The app hit 500,000 installations in 10 months.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.legit.ng/400385-history-naij-com-is-the-first-nigerian-app-to-reach-500000-downloads.html#400385|title=History! Naij.com Is The First Nigerian App To Reach 500,000 Downloads|last=Ukwu|first=Jerrywright|date=2015-03-30|access-date=2018-11-13|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109234645/https://www.legit.ng/400385-history-naij-com-is-the-first-nigerian-app-to-reach-500000-downloads.html#400385|url-status=dead|newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref> The all-time number of installs is more than 5 million.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}
In June 2015, Legit.ng partnered with Opera Software and telecom giant MTN Group to bring "one million days of free Internet to Nigeria".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/06/mtn-opera-software-partner-to-improve-internet-access/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=MTN, Opera Software Partner to Improve Internet Access | The Guardian Nigeria|author=Anozim|date=2015-06-26|access-date=2015-07-28|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
The website's servers were attacked by hackers in July 2015.<ref name="Wakapost">{{cite web|url=http://www.wakapost.com/internet-vulnerability-cyber-%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Battacks-on-naij-com-to-boko-haram-cyber-%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Bterrorism/|title=Internet Vulnerability: Cyber attacks on Naij.com To Boko Haram Cyber Terrorism | WAKAPOST|date=2015-07-16|publisher=Wakapost.|access-date=2015-07-24|archive-date=2015-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725011257/http://www.wakapost.com/internet-vulnerability-cyber-%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Battacks-on-naij-com-to-boko-haram-cyber-%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Bterrorism/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In August 2015, a news section in the Hausa language<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hausa.legit.ng/|title=Hausa Daily News {{!}} Labaran Hausa - LEGIT.NG|website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news.|language=ha-NG|access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref> was launched.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nigerianbulletin.com/threads/naij-com-launches-hausa-news-portal.235219/|title=Naij.com Launches Hausa News Portal - Nigerian Bulletin - Trending News|website=Nigerian Bulletin - Trending News|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-14|archive-date=2018-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109194712/https://www.nigerianbulletin.com/threads/naij-com-launches-hausa-news-portal.235219/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In February 2016, Legit.ng was among the first in Nigeria to roll out Facebook’s instant articles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/digital/instant-articles-android/|title=Facebook Extends Instant Articles to All Android Users – Adweek|website=www.adweek.com|date=16 December 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://media.fb.com/2015/12/16/instant-articles-launches-to-android/|title=Instant Articles Launches to Everyone on Android, with More Than 350 Publications Globally {{!}} Facebook Media|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en|archive-date=2018-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121184608/https://media.fb.com/2015/12/16/instant-articles-launches-to-android/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017, Facebook did a case study of this launch with Legit.ng and published the story in the Facebook Audience Network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/audiencenetwork/success-stories/naij |title=Naij.com success story |publisher=Facebook |access-date=2017-11-15}}</ref>
In March 2017, Legit.ng started a local journalism project to connect the reporters representing all the 36 states and the FCT.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.legit.ng/1092806-naij-local-reporters-part-brand-local-journalism-project.html#1092806|title=NAIJ.com is looking for local reporters to take part in brand new Local Journalism Project|last=Ikeke|first=Nkem|date=2017-03-09|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en-US|newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref> In the same period, a missing person initiative was launched,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.legit.ng/1094328-your-friend-loved-missing-kidnapped-send-alert-millions-naijcom.html|title=Raise alarm about missing person or case of kidnapping in Nigeria via Legit.ng|last=Ejiofor|first=Clement|date=2017-07-23|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en-US|newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref> to help Nigerians find their loved ones and return them home.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.legit.ng/1122732-nigerian-boy-missing-church-anambra-state-photo.html#1122732|title=Nigerian boy goes missing on his way to church (photo)|last=Odejobi|first=Micheal|date=2017-09-01|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en-US|newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref>
In October 2018, Naij.com changed its name to Legit.ng.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/169489/|title=The biggest Nigeria publisher NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng|date=2018-10-18|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en-GB|newspaper=Nigerian Tribune}}</ref>
In February 2019, Legit.ng was among 87 media organizations selected across 28 countries to receive Google News Initiative funds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Case study - Legit|url=https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/assets/static/docs/youtube/Legit.pdf|access-date=15 March 2021|website=Google News Initiative|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027045517/https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/assets/static/docs/youtube/Legit.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In August 2019, Legit.ng received the Award for Migration Reporting from UNESCO for migration news stories.<ref>{{Citation |title=Legit tv correspondent wins big at UNESCO national contest {{!}} Legit tv correspondent, Damilare Okunola, was a top three finalist at the recent national contest for investigative journalism organized by UNESCO. He... {{!}} By Legit.ng {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/legitngnews/videos/legit-tv-correspondent-wins-big-at-unesco-national-contest/718513588633173/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en}}</ref>
In July 2019, Legit.ng was recognized by ''Suncity News'' as one of "Nigeria's Champions of Democracy and Development 2019". The recognition was held at the Suncity Champion of Democracy and Development Awards in Abuja.<ref name=premium>{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/promoted/339879-promoted-suncity-news-to-honour-eminent-nigerians-for-contribution-to-nation-building.html?tztc=1 |title=SUNCITY NEWS to honour eminent Nigerians for contribution to nation building |date=9 July 2019|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref>
A new desk, human interest, was launched to tell more stories about outstanding Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora in February 2020. In March 2020, Legit.ng became a United Nations SDG Media Compact member.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lawal |first=Nurudeen |date=2021-03-01 |title=Legit.ng becomes member of United Nation's SDG Media Compact |url=https://www.legit.ng/1405059-legitng-member-united-nations-sustainable-development-goals-media-compact.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |newspaper=Legit.ng|language=en}}</ref>
In October 2020, Legit.ng organized the Big Naija Independence Contest. This marked the 60th anniversary of Nigeria's independence. The contest sought to find talented students who were passionate about journalism and writing, while giving them the opportunity to tell their own stories related to the country's independence.<ref name=opportunity>{{cite web|url=https://opportunitydesk.org/2020/11/05/legitng-big-naija-independence-contest-2020/ |title=Legit Big Naija Independence Contest 2020 (up to 200k in prizes) | first=Jude|last=Ogar|work=Opportunity Desk|date=5 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Big Naija Independence: Prominent Students Contest|url=https://www.specials.legit.ng/students-contest|access-date=2020-10-21|newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref>
In February 2021, Legit.ng started a Patreon charity program. Since then, the digital news media has collected money for six help campaigns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legit.ng |url=https://www.patreon.com/legit |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Patreon}}</ref> In July 2021, Legit.ng won a Google News Initiative grant for implementing a recommendation system (ReCo) that improves user experience.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lawal |first=Nurudeen |date=2021-07-29 |title=Legit.ng wins Google News Initiative grant |url=https://www.legit.ng/1426886-legitng-emerges-winner-google-news-initiative-grant.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |newspaper=Legit.ng|language=en}}</ref>
In July 2021, Legit.ng was named the Best News Website in Africa at the 2021 WAN-IFRA Africa Digital Media Awards.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=MENAFN |title=2021 Africa Digital Media Awards: Nigerian Legit.ng emerges as best news website |url=https://menafn.com/1102509261/2021-Africa-Digital-Media-Awards-Nigerian-Legitng-emerges-as-best-news-website |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=menafn.com |language=en}}</ref> The same month, Facebook features Legit.ng as a case study as an African news and entertainment brand.<ref name="auto"/>
In June 2022, Legit.ng launched the first gender-based violence (GBV) sensitization and fundraising campaign in partnership with Nigeria’s leading NGO - WARIF.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WARIF and Legit.ng Charity on a mission to support 100 Survivors – Prevent Rape and Sexual Violence |date=15 June 2022 |url=https://warifng.org/warif-and-legit-ng-charity-on-a-mission-to-support-100-survivors/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In October 2022, Legit.ng became the number one Facebook news media publisher in the world, according to NewsWhip Ranking.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Benedict |date=2022-11-10 |title=Legit surges to the top of our Facebook publisher rankings in October 2022 |url=https://www.newswhip.com/2022/11/legit-facebook-publisher-rankings-october-2022/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Newswhip |language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2022, a Legit.ng news media literacy campaign was launched in collaboration with top Nigerian celebrities, including Aproko Doctor, Teminikan, Tochi Oke, Tega Dominic, Chizzy Alichi, and Kayvee.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bust Fake News with Legit.ng |url=https://specials.legit.ng/legitmedialiteracy |access-date=2023-12-18 |newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref>
In April 2023, the Legit.ng website won in the category 'Best Trust Initiative at the Digital Media Awards Africa 2023 for its media literacy campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oyenuga |first=Kikelomo |date=2023-06-27 |title=Legit.ng recognised as "Best Trust Initiative" award winner by WAN-IFRA 2023 digital media awards |url=http://theindustry.ng/2023/06/27/legit-ng-recognised-as-best-trust-initiative-award-winner-by-wan-ifra-2023-digital-media-awards/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=The Industry |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218073255/http://theindustry.ng/2023/06/27/legit-ng-recognised-as-best-trust-initiative-award-winner-by-wan-ifra-2023-digital-media-awards/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In June 2023, Legit.ng was recognized as one of the most popular online news publishers by weekly online reach in Nigeria, in the Digital News Report 2023 published by the Reuters Institute of Journalism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spur |first=Brand |date=2023-06-27 |title=Legit.ng Emerged Top Weekly Online Reach Survey |url=https://brandspurng.com/2023/06/27/legit-ng-emerged-top-weekly-online-reach-survey/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Digital News Report 2023 |url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2023 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism |language=en}}</ref>
In the same month, Legit.ng became a member of the International News Media Association (INMA) alongside the ''New York Times'' and ''Washington Post''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oyenuga |first=Kikelomo |date=2023-06-27 |title=Legit.ng joins INMA |url=http://theindustry.ng/2023/06/27/legit-ng-joins-inma/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=The Industry |language=en-US}}</ref>
In July 2023, Legit.ng was recognized as the world’s most trusted project at WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards Worldwide for its media literacy campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herger |first=Christin |date=2023-06-28 |title=WAN-IFRA honours the world's top digital media projects |url=https://wan-ifra.org/2023/06/wan-ifra-honours-the-worlds-top-digital-media-projects/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=WAN-IFRA |language=en-US}}</ref>
In August 2023, Legit.ng collaborated with LEAP Africa to promote media literacy as a tool for social change to round off the Youth Day of Service agenda for 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Olugbade |first=Tolulope |date=2023-09-24 |title=Fake news: Youths urged to subject information sources to proper scrutiny |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/?p=738648 |access-date=2023-12-18 |newspaper=Nigerian Tribune|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=LEAP Africa – Raising Leaders, Transforming Africa |url=https://leapafrica.org/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In October 2023, Legit.ng won Best Online News Medium of the Year at the Nigeria Media Nite-out Award 2023. The HOD of the Current Affairs and Politics Desk, Legit.ng, Nurudeen Lawal, was named 'Political Desk Head of the Year'.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tomosori |first=Oluwaseyi |date=2023-10-30 |title="We won't stop": Legit.ng clinches awards at Nigeria Media Nite-Out |url=https://www.legit.ng/editorial/feature/1561163-legitng-celebrates-double-win-nigeria-media-nite-award-2023/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |newspaper=Legit.ng|language=en}}</ref>
In November 2023, Legit.ng was included in a report by Squirrel Media Technologies for Q3, 2023, where it was ranked among the most visited of Nigeria's platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=squirrelPR |title=Nigeria's Top 10 Online News Platforms Generate 250 Million Impressions in Q3 |url=https://www.squirrelpr.com/blog/post/12/nigerias-top-10-online-news-platforms-generate-250-million-impressions-in-q3 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=www.squirrelpr.com |language=en}}</ref>
In December 2023, Legit.ng partnered with the organizers of the United Nations Global Goals Women World Cup (GGWCUP) Nigeria Edition. Legit.ng moderated one of the panel discussions at the event.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tomosori |first=Oluwaseyi |date=2023-12-19 |title=Legit.ng Teams Up With the UN Global Goals Women World Cup Nigeria Edition 2023 - Legit.ng |url=https://www.legit.ng/editorial/feature/1569491-legitng-teams-global-goals-women-world-cup-nigeria-edition-2023/ |access-date=2025-09-19 |newspaper=Legit.ng|language=en}}</ref>
== Popularity == As of July 2015, it had more than 13 million monthly readers. It was then ranked as the 7th overall most visited website in Nigeria and the first among publishers by Alexa.<ref name=":0" /> The website's Facebook page has over 7.5 million members.{{when|date=January 2026}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/legitngnews/|title=Naij.com|publisher=Facebook|access-date=2015-07-24}}</ref> Legit.ng is the biggest publisher on Facebook, in terms of audience, in the 'Media' category.<ref name=":1" />
In October 2018, the number of Legit TV<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwd8fNhb8OPLPSNELSys9pg|title=Legit TV|website=YouTube|language=en|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref> YouTube channel subscribers exceeded 100,000, and the page was verified by the network. It has been ranked among the top 50 YouTube channels in Nigeria by vidooly.com.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vidooly.com/top-youtube-channels/NG/mostsubscribed|title=Top 50 YouTube channels in Nigeria {{!}} Most Subscribed Youtube Channel - Vidooly|website=vidooly.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
Category:Nigerian news websites Category:Internet properties established in 2012 Category:Nigerian companies established in 2012 Category:Companies based in Lagos