In a statement, Koolboks announced that its platform offers flexible, pay-as-you-go financing for solar-powered fridges, enabling households and small businesses to either swap out old electric freezers for solar models, retrofit existing units using plug-and-play kits, or purchase brand-new solar-powered freezers with an initial deposit as low as 10 per cent.
Koolboks’ Chief Executive Officer, Ayoola Dominic, said the company developed the platform to tackle the widespread loss of food and medicine due to unreliable cooling, which is exacerbated by erratic electricity supply. The launch event, held in Lagos, was hosted by popular comedian and skit maker, Layi Wasabi.
“This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about survival,” Dominic stated. “Lack of cooling destroys medicines, accelerates food waste, and contributes massively to greenhouse gas emissions. By solving the cooling problem, we are directly addressing climate change.”
Dominic cited data revealing that over 40 per cent of food in sub-Saharan Africa is lost due to insufficient refrigeration, while access to cold storage in the region stands at just 17 per cent – in stark contrast to over 90 per cent in developed countries.
He also drew attention to Nigeria’s poor handling of medical waste, citing figures from the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, which estimates that the country generates between 13 and 632.5 grams of medical waste per person daily.
“KoolBuy is about making clean cooling accessible to everyone. Cooling was once a luxury – today, it’s a necessity, and KoolBuyis making it a reality,” Dominic declared.
Koolboks’ Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Deborah Gael, highlighted the potential savings for small businesses:
“Imagine running your frozen food business without spending a naira on petrol. That’s the freedom we’re offering. We’re giving Nigerians access to modern refrigeration without the burden of fuel or unreliable electricity,” she said.
A key feature of KoolBuy is the PowerFoot Pedestal – a plug-and-play solar energy system that converts any existing freezer into a solar-powered appliance. The kit includes rooftop solar panels and lithium batteries, ensuring 24/7 cooling, even during cloudy weather or power cuts.
Koolboks said it has partnered with leading appliance brands such as Thermocool and Scanfrost, offering daily, weekly, and monthly payment plans tailored for small businesses, frozen food vendors, and rural households.
Chigozie Ezenwanne, a KoolBuy dealer, described the platform as a “game-changer” for grassroots businesses.
“With KoolBuy, you’re not just buying a freezer – you’re escaping fuel costs, erratic electricity, and food spoilage. This is economic empowerment for the grassroots,” he said, urging the government to consider similar financing models to tackle energy poverty.
“KoolBuy is already doing what the government struggles to achieve – bringing energy access to the people. With policy support, this could go nationwide,” Ezenwanne added.
Koolboks also called on the Federal Government to support the sector by enabling duty-free imports of solar products, enforcing quality standards, and investing in public awareness campaigns on the benefits of clean energy.
“This is about justice – climate justice, food justice, and economic justice,” Dominic concluded. “Everyone deserves access to clean, affordable cooling – not just the privileged few.”
