Nigerian startup PadiPlug has launched a smart power bank rental service at the Lagos State National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp, providing corps members with on-demand access to mobile phone charging amid persistent power supply challenges.
The service allows users to rent fully charged power banks from automated self-service stations located within the camp through a mobile application. Corps members can pick up a power bank within minutes, pay an hourly fee and return it to any designated PadiPlug station, reducing reliance on limited wall sockets during orientation activities.
According to a statement, the PadiPlug team was received by the NYSC State Coordinator, who acknowledged the relevance of the initiative and its potential to ease everyday challenges faced by corps members during camp.
Speaking on the launch, PadiPlug founder Increase Isesele said the service was developed to reflect Nigeria’s energy realities and the growing dependence of young people on mobile devices.
“Over time, Nigerians have learnt to plan their lives around unreliable electricity, how they move, work and communicate,” Isesele said. “We believe systems should work for people, not the other way around.
PadiPlug is designed to remove that daily friction and keep people connected when it matters most.”
Isesele noted that NYSC camps were a natural entry point for the service due to corps members’ heavy reliance on smartphones for coordination, safety, official communication and staying in touch with family and friends.
Also speaking, PadiPlug co-founder Osuagwu Franklin described the solution as a lifestyle convenience rather than a basic charging service.
“Charging your phone should be as easy as picking up a bottle of water,” Franklin said. “Corps members already deal with queues, tight schedules and the demands of camp life. Power should not be one of their worries.”
The company said its stations are fully automated and monitored to ensure ease of use, security and consistent availability. The service targets young people who depend on smartphones for productivity, digital payments, navigation, content creation and remote work.
PadiPlug said it plans to expand beyond the Lagos NYSC camp into other high-traffic, youth-focused locations, including universities, shopping malls, transport hubs, event centres and public spaces across Nigeria.
As smartphone use continues to rise amid ongoing electricity supply constraints, the company said its solution aims to provide convenience and reliability while reducing anxiety over low battery levels during critical moments.
