Access to electricity in Côte d’Ivoire has seen significant progress, with the government announcing a 95% electrification rate across the country and full coverage for cities and villages is expected by the end of 2025. However, for the nearly 75,000 to 90,000 unofficial farming camps in remote areas, reliable power remains out of reach, with no plans currently in place to connect them. For these people living off-grid, the daily reality often means relying on small lights such as torches and phone flashes, or, in many cases, having no light at all. Lumos is changing that story in rural communities across the country by providing affordable, clean, and reliable energy.
After the cocoa harvest season, when families and business owners have more disposable income, Lumos strategically intensifies its outreach efforts to connect with even the most remote parts of the region. This includes internal planning, such as designing impactful flyers and distributing branded merchandise, to effectively communicate the value of affordable and reliable solar power solutions. To kick off this important initiative, Lumos hosted a launch party that brought the team together to celebrate and align on key strategies. The event fostered collaboration and motivation, ensuring everyone was prepared to take this important step in expanding Lumos' mission to provide sustainable energy solutions.
Understanding that this is a critical moment for communities seeking to improve their quality of life, Lumos works to ensure that everyone, no matter where they live, can access reliable and affordable solar power. By connecting with people during this transformative period, Lumos empowers them to invest in lasting solutions, which provides stability and safety.
For customers like Ololo Enoc Dah, a farmer in Dagadji, a community with over 400 residents, Lumos has been life-changing. Before Lumos, Ololo relied on torches to navigate his home, spending 2,000 XOF every month to recharge them. He also used a small, low-cost solar panel to light his two-bedroom home, but its battery would fail every three months, forcing him to replace it four to five times a year. These unreliable energy sources meant limited comfort and frequent expenses. With Lumos, these costs have significantly decreased, while his quality of life has improved, with Ololo now enjoying a stable, durable power solution that lights every room in his house. The 3-year warranty on the Lumos battery ensures he no longer needs to worry about constant replacements. Beyond lighting, he’s now able to connect a television, a fan, and charge multiple phones, improving both his family’s quality of life and their ability to stay connected. “Lumos has completely transformed my home,” Ololo says. “I have light everywhere, and my family is more comfortable than ever.”
For shopkeeper Mamadi Dioulde Bary in Cavally, a community of 500 residents, the story is similar. Mamadi’s family relied on torches, spending 2,000 XOF weekly to recharge them. The poor lighting affected their daily lives, limiting how they could use their home after dark. With Lumos, everything has changed. Mamadi now has light in every room, a fan to keep his home cool, and the ability to charge phones and watch television. “My children can now study comfortably at night,” Mamadi shares, “and our evenings are no longer dictated by darkness or unreliable energy sources.”
In Bloléquin, another community with over 500 residents, Adjata Coulibaly, who works at a local medical center, recalls the struggles of using a solar torch costing 10,000 XOF to light the delivery room. The limited light not only hindered critical medical procedures but also added unnecessary stress to an already challenging environment. With Lumos, Adjata has been able to illuminate the entire medical centre, improving safety and ensuring better care for patients. “Lumos has brought light to our work and given us the ability to do our jobs properly,” she says.
Bringing this vision to life requires an extensive field operation. Lumos teams work tirelessly to reach some of the most remote and underserved areas in Cote d'Ivoire. On the ground, dedicated field teams and Delegates engage with residents, demonstrating the installation process and providing education on how to maximize the benefits of the solar systems.
Les Lumosiennes - the women driving Lumos' impact in rural Côte d'Ivoire, celebrating with the Group CEO
For people like Moussa Roger Opokou, who works at a toll bridge in Dalagri, a community with at least 200 inhabitants, Lumos has brought a profound transformation. Before Lumos, Moussa had no source of energy, making it impossible to perform basic tasks at work. Now, with Lumos, he can use a computer, light up his workplace, and charge telephones efficiently. This newfound access to reliable energy has improved productivity and convenience, leaving Moussa very satisfied with the positive changes Lumos has brought to his life. Indeed, many use the solar system to charge phones and other devices, allowing them to communicate with family, stay informed, and pursue educational opportunities.
A Bridge to a Better Life
By gaining access to reliable and affordable power for the first time, residents of camps across Cote d'Ivoire are experiencing a higher quality of life. The resilience and determination of people in these communities shine through as they embrace Lumos to take control of their energy needs, investing in a brighter, more sustainable future. This post-cocoa-harvest season, more families and businesses are seizing the opportunity to bring Lumos into their lives, setting the stage for a year of stability, growth, and hope.