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All On, a Nigerian impact investor focused on renewable energy access, has announced a $1 million investment in Eja-Ice Nigeria Limited, a manufacturer of solar-powered refrigeration and cold chain solutions. The capital will support the company’s manufacturing scale-up and operational expansion as it moves into its next phase of growth.
The funding is expected to broaden Eja-Ice’s reach in off-grid and weak-grid communities across Nigeria, improving access to reliable cooling services for households, small businesses, and institutions that currently lack dependable electricity.
Founded by Yusuf Bilesanmi in 2020, the Lagos-headquartered Eja-Ice designs and assembles solar-powered freezers, cold rooms, and cooling mobility solutions, including solar-powered vans and tricycles. Its solutions are tailored to the realities of Nigeria’s underserved markets.
Post-harvest losses remain a severe constraint in these communities, particularly in coastal and rural areas, where limited energy infrastructure undermines the livelihoods of small-scale agro-producers and fishing communities. The company serves these communities alongside micro enterprises and cooperatives by operating four service models: direct sales, service-based access, lease-to-own, and third-party logistics.
Its systems run 100% off-grid with zero diesel for cooling, positioning the company as a climate-smart solution to Nigeria’s cold chain gap.
All On, seeded by Shell and operating as an independent company, provides debt and equity funding alongside non-financial support to Nigerian energy businesses aligned with its mission to close the country’s energy access gap. Its mission finds a direct synergy in Eja-Ice’s model since its cold-chain systems replace the fuel-dependent generators that small businesses in weak-grid communities have long relied on to prevent spoilage run.
Commenting on the deal, Caroline Eboumbou, CEO of All On, said, “All On’s investment in Eja-Ice reflects our approach of supporting solutions that improve energy access while enhancing livelihoods, reducing costs, and enabling businesses to grow. Strengthening cold-chain infrastructure is an important step towards building more resilient local economies and expanding opportunities in underserved markets.”
“This capital raise is a huge step forward in our vision to power homes and businesses with products designed, assembled, and optimised right here on the continent. It’s not just about access to electricity — it’s about dignity, productivity, and opportunity for the over 600 million people across sub-Saharan Africa who are still off-grid,” said Yusuf Bilesanmi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eja-Ice.
Its current partners include FanMilk and Chicken Republic and by 2028, Eja-Ice projects it will support more than 1,500 MSMEs and livelihoods across West and East Africa, preserve between 4,000 and 7,000 tonnes of food annually, and avoid between 30,000 and 50,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent through electrified cold-chain logistics.
