The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a partnership agreement to accelerate Nigeria’s clean energy transition, drive innovation, and equip a new generation of skilled workers.
The deal, announced in a statement on Friday, will centre on “energising education and innovation, expanding skills development, supporting state-level policy reforms, unlocking innovative financing, and advancing research and communication”.
Speaking on the agreement, Abba Aliyu, managing director of REA, described the move as “a game-changer for Nigeria’s clean energy future,” saying it would build on “federal renewable energy scale-up efforts, open opportunities in local manufacturing, and attract sustainable investment”.
“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a renewable energy hub, reduce governance costs, and catalyze innovation, research, and development,” Aliyu said.
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He added that the pillars were “specifically targeted at advancing ongoing efforts in the clean energy space in Nigeria, catalysing opportunities across critical ecosystems and unlocking the full potentials in innovation, R&D, local expertise and sustainable investment”.
Elsie Attafuah, UNDP resident representative in Nigeria, said the collaboration with the agency is a bold step toward a more sustainable and prosperous Nigeria.
“Our partnership will not only provide access to clean energy but also serve as a powerful engine for innovation, youth empowerment, and job creation. We are moving beyond simply powering communities to igniting their full potential,” she said.
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Attafuah stressed the importance of value addition to Nigeria’s natural resources, adding that “we must transform our natural resources such as lithium into impactful renewable products like lithium battery systems”.
According to the statement, part of the deal includes UNDP and REA integrating University Innovation Pods (UNIPODS) and maker spaces into the energising education programme to turn universities and teaching hospitals into hubs of innovation.
“They will also scale the NEXTGEN initiative to train a new wave of clean energy professionals, work with states to implement the Electricity Act effectively, leverage blended finance to de-risk projects and attract private capital, and produce data-driven research to guide policy and promote clean energy adoption,” the agency added.
The organisations also said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to “inclusive and locally driven development and to ensuring Nigeria achieves universal access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy”.
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