Nigeria’s clean energy drive gets boost with launch of innovation development programme

Nigeria's commitment to clean energy has been reinforced with the inauguration of an innovation development programme, designed to bolster investment in the sector. The Federal Government has embarked on a shift towards renewable energy sources, such as solar power, through increased investments as outlined in the Energy Transition and Investment Plans (ETIP).

According to ETIP, Nigeria's transition to domestic renewables is expected to yield USD 686.8 billion in fuel cost savings by 2060, contingent on infrastructure development, which targets 277 GW of installed capacity and over 104,000 mini-grids by 2030.

To accelerate this transformation, an off-grid energy investment firm, All On, launched the 12-month Innovation Ecosystem Development Programme, supported by the United Nations affiliated Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. This initiative will provide crucial technical expertise, hands-on development, access to appropriate equipment and facilities, mentorship, and necessary support to clean energy startups and entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

Flagged off by All On's Chief Executive Officer, Caroline Eboumbou, the programme aims to address a significant gap in Nigeria's clean energy ecosystem by offering technical and infrastructural support to ventures in their ideation and prototype development stages.

While financial resources remain vital for scaling energy businesses, many early-stage ventures require additional resources beyond funding to transform an idea into a viable solution. Eboumbou highlighted that innovation is a collaborative process that demands the right environment, technical assistance, and opportunities to build, test, and iterate solutions in optimal conditions.

By offering practical support, the All On Innovation Ecosystem Development Programme will significantly contribute to Nigeria's clean energy future.

Muhammad Wakil, the Country Director for Nigeria at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, emphasized that ideas materialize as businesses when entrepreneurs have access to appropriate environments to build and test their concepts. The programme will equip ventures with the necessary facilities and mentorship to refine their solutions before accessing capital.

Wakil anticipates that ventures emerging from this programme will be more attractive to investors, as they will showcase tested prototypes rather than mere theoretical concepts. This pipeline is essential for the growth and development of Nigeria's clean energy sector.