Poor power supply has for years been a problem in Nigeria. While the government tries to solve it, a lot of business owners and Nigerian homes have sought for solutions to live their lives without feeling the full effect of the epileptic power supply.
While many who can afford it have embraced the use of inverters and generators, burning thousands of naira in fuel purchases, there are still millions who depend solely on the country’s power supply, and only use electricity whenever power generation companies choose to make it available.
In a bid to play his part in addressing the issue of power, Seyi Fakoya developed the Saja Stations to enable people charge their phone during those periods of power outage.
Saja Station is a solar-powered mobile kiosk with power outlets that enable people charge their mobile phones.
This solar-powered kiosks were rolled out in May, and tested at an NYSC orientation camp in Lagos and at the RCCG camp in Ogun state.
Each station comprises of solar panel, solar battery, solar bulb, inverter and charge controller. Using fast charging cables and desktop chargers, one Saja station cart can charge up to 50 phones simultaneously, and a full phone charge takes approximately 120mins.
The mobile kiosks not only serve as chargers, they are a multi-sales channel that also serve as a point of sales, and can be used for advert placement.
On the Saja Station’s website, Nigerians can register to be Sajarians, that is agents, who will receive the kiosks to begin their own green mobile phone charging business.
According to the founder, Seyi Fakoya, he got the idea for Saja Station after watching a roadside vendor sell airtime while also recharging people’s phones using a generator.
The Saja Stations are currently available in only Lagos, but the founder revealed that plans are place to get them across Nigeria within the next two years, after which the service would be expanded to other countries.
For Saja, revenue is generated via transaction fees, customer acquisition fees, direct service fees and advertising on the carts.
The startup has raised debt capital from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, and has also signed an Agent Network Agreement with AppZone Group to manage agents on their behalf.
Saja Station is a great idea that would definitely be useful to millions of people around Nigeria.
Although it still has to compete with vendors who use generators to provide same service, and can operate whether it’s a rainy or sunny day. What would give Saja an edge, however, is its multi-sales channel.
