Meet Our Agents: How Kofi Built a Collection Business from Scratch

When Kofi Mensah first heard about Benin Energy, he was sceptical. The idea that restaurants would pay him nothing — and that he could earn money — just by collecting their used cooking oil seemed too good to be true. Six months later, he manages a network of 47 sellers across two local government areas and earns more than he did in his previous role as a logistics coordinator.

Getting Started

Kofi signed up through our agent application portal and completed the onboarding process in three days. He received training on quality assessment, seller registration, collection scheduling, and how to use the Benin Energy mobile app. He started with just five sellers — restaurants he already knew from his neighbourhood.

A Typical Day

Kofi's day starts early. By 7am, he's reviewing his collection schedule on the app. He visits sellers in batches, usually covering 8-12 stops per day. At each stop, he inspects the oil, records the volume, processes payment to the seller via mobile money, and arranges for a Benin Energy driver to pick up the containers.

Building the Network

The real growth came from word of mouth. As restaurants saw their neighbours getting paid for waste oil, they wanted in. Kofi now spends about 30% of his time onboarding new sellers. He's become a trusted figure in the community — the man who turns waste into cash.

The Numbers

In his best month, Kofi facilitated the collection of over 3,200 litres of UCO and earned a commission that exceeded his previous monthly salary. He's now training two junior agents who work under his supervision, building a small team.

What It Means

For Kofi, the Benin Energy agent programme isn't just a job — it's a business. He sets his own hours, manages his own territory, and sees a direct connection between effort and income. 'I wake up excited to work,' he says. 'That's something I never felt before.'

Kofi's story is one of dozens playing out across our network. And it's just the beginning.