Powering Dreams: How Electricity Changed Afolabi’s Marriage and Community

For many rural entrepreneurs, running a business without reliable electricity is a constant uphill battle. From powering tools to communicating with customers, the absence of electricity often limits growth and opportunity.

This was the reality for Afolabi Olarewanju, a young entrepreneur who runs multiple businesses – maize trading, POS services, electronics, and farm produce. For him, something as basic as charging a POS machine was a major hurdle.

“At that time when there was no light, we needed to charge our POS machines, charge our phones… I usually went to a shop opposite mine just to charge so I could work,” Afolabi recalled.

Every trip to recharge meant delays, lost transactions, and frustrated customers. Running his business felt like surviving one inconvenience after another. Even simple things like communicating with customers or completing mobile transfers were difficult.

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But the absence of power wasn’t just affecting his work, it was affecting his personal life, too.

Afolabi shared how the lack of electricity once made his wife reconsider living in the community.

“Before we got married in 2022, my wife said she couldn’t stay here because there was no light. She was used to places with electricity. I just kept trying to convince her,” he said.

Everything changed when solar-powered electricity arrived. Suddenly, the community had steady, reliable power, and life began to take a new shape.

Afolabi quickly expanded his business. With electricity, he no longer needed to spend hours chasing power for his POS machines. Instead, he added electronics sales to his ventures — something that would have been impossible without electricity.

“When the light came, I started selling electronics. It reduced my stress. And I see now that people are migrating into the community. That has helped my business,” he explained.

The transformation has been more than personal. Afolabi has watched his town attract new residents, customers, and opportunities, all powered by the simple yet powerful presence of electricity.

“Even the electricity we receive is better than what you have in the city,” he said with a smile. “You can even come here to stay. There’s no issue.”

For Afolabi, the coming of electricity meant more than powering machines – it powered his marriage, his business, and the future of his community.

Watch his story here:

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