Sun King, best known for financing off-grid solar systems across Africa, has expanded its pay-as-you-go model into smartphone financing in Nigeria, as rising device costs continue to widen the country’s digital access gap.
The off-grid energy company has launched an instalment payment scheme that allows customers to purchase smartphones without paying the full cost upfront. The model mirrors the approach Sun King has used for years to help households and small businesses acquire solar home systems through small, periodic payments.
Under the new offering, Nigerians can buy smartphones from major global brands such as Samsung, Tecno, and Infinix by making an initial deposit and spreading the remaining cost over time. The move comes amid sharp increases in smartphone prices driven by inflation and currency depreciation, which have made even entry-level devices increasingly unaffordable for low-income households, students, and informal workers.
“For years, we have helped Nigerian households and businesses overcome the barrier of high upfront costs for reliable and sustainable solar power,” said Omoyemi Tuga, Vice President for Pay-As-You-Go Sales in West and Central Africa at Sun King. “We are now extending the same approach to smartphones.”
Tuga said the company is leveraging its nationwide distribution network, which spans all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory through community-based agents and retail outlets. This physical presence, she noted, makes it easier to onboard customers in person and support repayments over time.
Founded in 2007, Sun King designs and sells off-grid solar products across Africa and Asia, targeting regions with limited or unreliable electricity access. The company has scaled rapidly in recent years, setting up its largest manufacturing plant in Kenya in October and closing a $40 million equity round in December to accelerate solar distribution across Sub-Saharan Africa.
For its smartphone financing rollout, Sun King says it is offering a mix of entry-level and mid-range devices, including the Samsung A06, Tecno Pop 10, and models from Infinix’s Smart and Hot series. Customers are onboarded by Sun King agents or partner retail shops and can begin using their phones after making an initial payment.
“For many Nigerians, a smartphone is the primary way to get online, study, find work, run a business, or access everyday services,” the company said. “Yet the upfront cost keeps millions, especially young people, women, and low-income families, from owning the devices they need.”
By removing the requirement for a full upfront payment, Sun King argues that its model lowers one of the biggest barriers to digital participation. The company’s move also places it among a growing group of firms offering pay-as-you-go smartphone financing in Nigeria. Kenya-based M-KOPA has long used a similar model across multiple African markets, while local players such as CD Care provide device financing and after-sales support through instalment plans.
However, Sun King has not disclosed key commercial details of its smartphone PayGo model, including interest rates, repayment timelines, default thresholds, or enforcement mechanisms.
As Nigeria pushes to deepen digital inclusion and expand access to online services, affordable device ownership remains a critical challenge. Sun King’s entry into smartphone financing signals growing convergence between energy access, financial inclusion, and digital connectivity in Africa’s largest economy.
