Lagos Technicians Call for Skills Development, Stronger Govt-Industry Collaboration to Support Energy Transition
Fadekemi Ajakaiye Generator and solar energy technicians in Lagos have called for a coordinated framework to support the transition from the traditional genset economy into the rapidly growing solar energy
Lagos-based generator and solar energy technicians have stressed the need for a structured framework to facilitate the shift from traditional genset economy to the burgeoning solar energy industry. During a Solar Technicians Town Hall at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, researchers from ODI Global/African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) and De Montfort University (DMU) discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by technicians in Nigeria's energy transition from genset to solar.
The event brought together solar technicians, informal energy workers, and researchers to deliberate on the opportunities and obstacles confronting workers in Nigeria's shifting energy landscape. The discussions emphasized the vital role played by informal technicians in the sector and the necessity of ensuring their inclusion in the emerging solar economy.
Researchers highlighted that many technicians with experience in repairing and maintaining generators possess practical electrical, mechanical, and customer-service skills that could serve as the foundation for developing solar installation and maintenance expertise.
However, participants identified fragmented training pathways, limited access to recognized certification, financing constraints, restricted opportunities for structured retraining, and regulatory hurdles as some of the obstacles that could hinder the transition. This town hall is part of a larger research endeavor aimed at collecting evidence on how technicians acquire solar skills and the effectiveness of existing training systems in meeting the demands of the changing energy market.
The research team has conducted a rapid labor-market assessment involving over 300 technicians from major informal technical clusters in Lagos, examining their occupational backgrounds, routes into solar work, apprenticeship and informal learning experiences, and access to formal training and certification.
The research team is also engaging with solar companies, training providers, and other industry stakeholders to assess recruitment and training practices, the quality of existing skills-acquisition pathways, and the growing demand for solar skills. A final stakeholder convening will be held later in the month to discuss these findings.
Dr. Eghosa Igudia of De Montfort University, who led the project, emphasized the significance of including technicians in discussions around their future and the development of the renewable-energy workforce. He stressed that the transition from generators to solar energy should be viewed as a skill, employment, and livelihood transition, not just an environmental or energy-sector issue.
The project is guided by the African Cities Research Consortium's Theory of Change, which focuses on mobilizing citizens and building coalitions to influence reform and strengthen state capacity. Researchers from the University of Lagos and the National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation are providing technical and renewable-energy expertise to the study.
The Federation of Informal Workers Organizations of Nigeria (FIWON) is facilitating access to technicians and other workers operating within Lagos' informal and semi-formal energy economy.
One of the key outcomes of the town hall was the direct dialogue between generator and solar energy technicians regarding their livelihoods and the growth of the renewable-energy workforce. Participants stressed the importance of creating training programs that acknowledge the existing knowledge of experienced technicians while equipping them with additional competencies needed for safe and effective solar installations and maintenance in the rapidly evolving sector.
The research team will use the findings from the town hall, the technician survey, interviews, and training-programme mapping to generate recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and development partners. The next phase includes a multi-stakeholder engagement workshop to examine practical measures to address identified skills gaps, enhance training pathways, strengthen certification systems, expand financing access, and improve coordination among institutions involved in solar skills development.
Ultimately, the researchers aim to establish a functional coalition to support future interventions, such as genset-to-solar reskilling programs, improved apprenticeship systems, and appropriate certification and licensing frameworks.
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