Sterling Bank Solar Hubs Launch Inside StarTimes Outlets Nationwide
Quick Reads
- Sterling Bank and StarTimes have launched solar financing hubs inside StarTimes retail outlets.
- The partnership targets ₦2 billion in renewable energy financing by the end of 2026.
- Five hubs opened in Lagos this July, spanning Lekki, Ikeja, Festac, Surulere, and Victoria Island.
- The network will expand to 46 outlets by Q3, then over 200 nationwide.
- Customers can now access on-the-spot solar financing directly at the point of purchase.
Sterling Bank solar hubs are now live inside StarTimes retail outlets, embedding clean energy financing directly at the point of sale. The initiative, detailed in a joint announcement between the two companies, builds on an existing partnership. That earlier collaboration already facilitated over ₦600 million in solar transactions over the past year.
Now, Sterling Bank and StarTimes are aiming much higher. Their new joint target is ₦2 billion in renewable energy financing by the end of 2026. Customers can walk into a participating outlet, select a solar solution, and start financing immediately. Dedicated Sterling Solar Financing Advisors guide buyers through the process, subject to standard credit checks.
The rollout begins with five hubs across Lagos, in Lekki, Ikeja, Festac, Surulere, and Victoria Island. From there, the network expands to 46 StarTimes outlets by the third quarter of 2026. Eventually, the partners plan to scale the model to over 200 locations nationwide. Darlington Nwankwo of Sterling Bank framed the move as democratizing access to clean energy financing.
Meanwhile, StarTimes Nigeria’s Eric Xiao described it as building a lasting sustainable energy ecosystem. Sterling Bank operates one of Nigeria’s few dedicated renewable energy divisions, and its broader HEART strategy prioritizes clean power financing. As Nigeria’s energy transition accelerates, embedding financing inside retail stores could meaningfully speed up adoption.
