The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations-Alliance (REEEA-A) has called for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and coordinated action to accelerate access to clean and affordable energy in Nigeria.
This appeal was made at REEEA-A’s fifth International Conference on Wednesday in Lagos, where stakeholders emphasized moving from policy talks to practical implementation.
The conference theme was: “Accelerating Collective Action and Strategic Partnerships for Equitable Clean Energy Access.”
It gathered government officials, investors, development partners, researchers, and energy professionals.
Mr. Ayodeji Dada, Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, said energy challenges are too complex for any single institution, sector, or country to solve alone.
He urged collaboration among governments, private sector players, financial institutions, academia, civil society, and communities to expand clean energy access.
Dada highlighted the roles of policymakers in creating enabling regulations, while the private sector should innovate and invest. Financial institutions need to develop instruments to mitigate risks, and academia must generate relevant technologies.
He also stressed the importance of including women, youth, and underserved communities in the energy transition.
“We must move from conversation to collaboration, from collaboration to implementation, and from implementation to measurable impact,” Dada said.
He announced that REEEA-A would deepen engagement with various stakeholders and promote knowledge exchange, capacity building, and regional cooperation across Africa and beyond.
Dada encouraged participants to view the conference as partners in a shared mission, challenge conventional thinking, share experiences, and pursue practical collaborations with measurable outcomes.
Prof. Magnus Onuoha, outgoing Chair of REEEA-A, urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration to advance renewable energy and efficiency efforts.
He emphasized that the energy transition requires ongoing engagement among government, private sector, development partners, academia, and civil society.
Prof. Abubakar Sambo, Chair of the Board of Trustees, stated that stronger partnerships are essential to tackling Nigeria’s energy challenges.
He noted that energy is vital for economic growth, jobs, healthcare, education, and improved living standards, yet millions lack reliable, affordable energy.
“Energy is too big for any single stakeholder to solve alone. It demands collective action,” he said.
Sambo called for appropriate policies, innovative private sector solutions, and research-driven contributions from academia. Development partners should support capacity building and financing, while communities and civil society must ensure solutions meet local needs.
He urged REEEA-A to foster collaboration across organizations and professionals in renewable energy and efficiency, creating platforms for knowledge sharing, advocacy, and investment.
Sambo emphasized that affordable energy must reach everyone, including rural communities, women, youth, and underserved populations.
He also highlighted the importance of energy efficiency, noting that reducing waste lowers costs and eases infrastructure pressure.
The target of generating 178,000 MW of renewable energy by 2050, outlined in Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Roadmap, was also discussed. Stakeholders are encouraged to work together to achieve this goal.
Sambo urged collaboration with agencies like the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, Energy Commission of Nigeria, and the Federal Ministry of Power to develop clear plans and track progress.
He called for increased local manufacturing of solar components to reduce costs and create jobs, and proposed innovative financing mechanisms, citing South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme as a model.
He also emphasized the need for improved quality control to prevent substandard products and urged power operators to partner with state governments to expand electricity access.
Sambo noted that constitutional amendments allow more state participation in power generation and distribution, with about 17 states already involved.
He recommended developing a national renewable energy and power plan, investing in manpower and capacity building, and enhancing education and training programs.
He distinguished between electricity access and availability, noting Nigeria’s per capita consumption remains about 180 kWh annually—much lower than the African average of 600 kWh and the global average of 3,600 kWh—highlighting the urgent need to boost capacity.
He thanked development partners like GIZ and all participants for their contributions and expressed confidence that stronger collaboration will lead to a cleaner, more reliable, affordable, and inclusive energy future.
