Nigerian entrepreneur Olugbenga Olubanjo has provided an alternative to Nigeria’s power problem.
His company, Reeddi, rents out small, lightweight solar-powered batteries called “Reeddi Capsules” that can power devices such as televisions, laptop computers, and refrigerators.
The product can be purchased with a solar panel for 199,000 Nigerian Naira (approximately $430) or rented from “mom-and-pop shops” for about 50 cents per day, charged by Reeddi’s solar panels.
According to Olubanjo, one battery can power a TV for about five hours or a 15-watt fan for 15 hours, which is more expensive than using mains electricity but often less expensive than running a generator.
More than 92 million Nigerians lack access to electricity, and those who are connected to the grid face frequent power outages, according to the International Energy Agency,
As a result, many Nigerians rely on petrol and diesel to power their generators, which are noisy, expensive, and polluting, but with Olubanjo’s product, many Nigerians can now have power without breaking a sweat.
