M-KOPA Nigeria to launch pay-as-you-go data bundles in March (NTN Update 678)

M-KOPA Nigeria will introduce its pay-as-you-go data bundles in March as part of its 2026 expansion, signaling a new phase in the company’s mission to provide digital access and financial inclusion to everyday earners throughout the country.

Babajide Duroshola, general manager of M-KOPA Nigeria, told BusinessDay in an exclusive interview that the programme will allow customers to access smartphones with embedded data bundles that can be paid for in micro-installments.

“As part of our outlook for 2026, we will continue to expand our footprint throughout the country. Today, we are in six locations, and by the end of 2027, we aim to be in at least 15 states. The introduction of pay-as-you-go data bundles is an extension of our approach to providing affordable access to digital tools, and customers can access larger data allocations while paying at their own pace,” he said.

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Smartphones as tools for income

Since its launch in Nigeria in 2019, M-KOPA has focused on dismantling barriers to financial inclusion through flexible smartphone financing and digital financial tools aligned with the income patterns of the informal economy.

The company’s first Nigeria Impact Report, covering 2019 to 2025, provides a comprehensive overview of the outcomes achieved by the company, showing measurable impact on income generation, digital inclusion, and economic opportunity.

The report highlights that over N230 billion in credit has been deployed to more than one million customers in Nigeria, making it M-KOPA’s fastest-growing market and the fastest to reach this milestone globally. Of these customers, 290,000 were first-time smartphone users, while 77 percent of all customers reported using smartphones to generate income. Duroshola explained,

“These are people who are experiencing a smartphone for the first time because M-KOPA exists. For us, it is significant that these tools are being used not just for communication, but as income-generating devices. For example, 770,000 people use their smartphones to support their families and basic needs,” he said during the interview.

Suliyat, a rice seller, said the stage allowed her to expand her business while managing family needs.

“When I found out the M-KOPA deposit was just N40,000, I paid immediately. With the money I had been saving, I bought more rice for my business. Now, I can pay the kids’ school fees and manage my business. With my smartphone, I keep in contact with suppliers, manage salesgirls, and post TikTok videos of my food,” she said.

Women’s inclusion has been central to M-KOPA’s impact strategy. The report shows that women’s participation as customers increased from 29 percent in 2024 to 33 percent in 2025, while 53 percent of active sales agents are women, representing a 42 percent increase.

Among women customers, 52 percent accessed their first-ever formal loan through M-KOPA. “We are very big on gender inclusion. Women in our customer base are accessing formal credit for the first time, and our agent network also creates employment and income-generating opportunities,” Duroshola said.

M-KOPA’s agent network in Nigeria is the largest in the company’s global operations, with 11,000 active direct sales agents. Agent turnover remains at 0.1 percent, and 56 percent of agents accessed their first income opportunity through the platform.

Agents have a clear pathway for career growth, moving from initial agent roles to cluster leaders and full-time positions within M-KOPA. Duroshola noted, “Our agents are earning income that they may not have earned elsewhere. They are essential in distributing our products and supporting our mission of financial inclusion.”

The Impact Report also details broader economic contributions, including local procurement and tax contributions. M-KOPA Nigeria has spent N27.4 billion on local procurement over the past years, supporting local businesses through smartphone procurement, T-shirts, FaceTabs, and other locally sourced products.

The company also contributed N2.5 billion in tax revenue, generated from withholding taxes, product purchases, and employee income taxes. Duroshola said, “One man’s expenditure is another man’s income. Our procurement and tax contributions create income and economic activity throughout Nigeria.”

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Repayment flexibility has been a key component of M-KOPA’s model, enabling customers to manage credit without traditional collateral. Loans for smartphones and other services are structured as daily micro-payments, with the option to return devices and reclaim deposits if repayment becomes difficult.

“Fairness, transparency, and ease of payment are critical. Customers can build a credit history, access additional cash loans, and use the stage for other services, including health insurance and bond loans,” Duroshola said.