Egoras Technologies Ltd. has partnered with Airtel Nigeria to launch an AI-powered smartphone called the Cube Phone, aimed at transforming small informal businesses into digital enterprises. Priced at N240,000 ($150), the device includes free internet access for business functions, a built-in contactless payment terminal, and an AI Business Suite with tools for financial tracking, contract drafting and HR management. The launch is set for April 28, with distribution through Egoras showrooms nationwide. A key feature is zero-rated data for all CubeOS activities, enabled by Airtel, removing data costs that typically run N5,000 to N10,000 monthly for small traders. Each phone comes with 100 battery-free NFC Cube Cards, allowing customers to make transactions using only a password, no smartphone or app required. The device stores all data on-device using blockchain encryption, bypassing centralized servers. Ugoji Harry, CEO of Egoras, stated the goal was not to compete in the smartphone market but to eliminate structural barriers to digital sales. Only about eight percent of Nigeria's estimated 40 million micro and small businesses currently accept digital payments. The company projects one million phones and 100 million Cube Cards in circulation within the first year.
Selling a smartphone to digitize millions of traders sounds more like tech evangelism than a grounded solution. Ugoji Harry and Egoras are betting that hardware can fix systemic gaps in trust, infrastructure and purchasing power. But Nigerian small businesses have been promised digital leaps before, often collapsing under real-world friction. If the Cube Phone gains traction, it won't be because of AI or blockchain—it'll be because the data is truly free and the cards actually work at scale.
