The UK-based Azuri Technologies, pay-as-you-go solar technology solution provider in Africa, and First Bank of Nigeria Limited have announced a partnership agreement that aims to help deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria while bringing clean power solutions
Under the partnership agreement, Azuri’s solar home TV product will be co-branded and co-marketed by FirstBank and Azuri. Pay-as-you-go customers will be able to pay for their solar via FirstBank’s Firstmonie agent network and mobile payment solution.
Firstmonie agents are positioned within rural and semi-urban locations across the country and provide basic financial services such as account opening, cash deposit, cash withdrawals and bill payments.
According to the World Bank data, more than 60mn of Nigeria’s 200mn people do not have bank accounts and about six per cent of people have a mobile money account.
Speaking on the partnership, Azuri CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth and FirstBank CEO Adesola Adeduntan stated that the partnership was a positive step in providing much-needed energy and enabling access to financial services in rural, low-income areas.
“Azuri and FirstBank share the vision of a level playing field where all consumers have the ability to benefit from modern financial and digital services, regardless of where they live and this agreement is another step in making that vision a reality,” commented Bransfield-Garth.
From solar home lighting to solar satellite TV, Azuri systems aim to deliver world-class performance at an affordable price for all customers that experience irregular power supply.
Pay-as-you-go solar is transforming lives by providing energy for lighting, phones and TVs while helping boost local economies with new employment opportunities and connecting off-grid households to financial and digital services that are helping improve productivity and increase income.
