The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have formalized a new partnership designed to fast-track the country’s clean energy transition, expand access to renewable power, and prepare a new generation of professionals for the energy sector of the future.
The agreement, signed Friday in Abuja, rests on five pillars: energising education and innovation, scaling skills development, supporting state-level policy reforms, unlocking innovative financing, and strengthening research and public engagement.
REA’s Managing Director and CEO, Abba Aliyu, hailed the deal as “a game-changer” for Nigeria’s renewable energy ambitions, stressing its potential to boost local manufacturing, reduce governance costs, and attract sustainable investments.
“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a renewable energy hub, reduce governance costs, and catalyse innovation, research and development,” Aliyu said.
He added that unlocking opportunities in clean energy would depend on expanding local content, building domestic manufacturing capacity, and leveraging innovative financing to make projects more viable.
UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie G. Attafuah, described the collaboration as 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,” she said.
Attafuah highlighted the importance of turning Nigeria’s abundant natural resources—such as lithium—into value-added renewable energy products like battery systems. She noted that embedding research and innovation into universities and technical institutions would help generate green jobs and position Nigeria competitively in the global energy market.
Driving youth skills, innovation, and state-level reforms
Under the agreement, UNDP’s University Innovation Pods and Maker Spaces will be integrated into REA’s Energising Education Programme, transforming federal universities and teaching hospitals into hubs of renewable energy innovation. The partnership will also scale REA’s NEXTGEN initiative, which trains young professionals to build a national pipeline of clean energy talent.
At the state level, the two organisations will provide technical assistance to implement the Electricity Act, harmonise energy policies, and attract private capital through blended finance models. The collaboration will also strengthen the Rural Electrification Fund to expand off-grid renewable projects in underserved communities.
Both agencies pledged to jointly produce reliable data on Nigeria’s clean energy progress and run public campaigns aimed at increasing consumer adoption and public support for renewable energy policies.
Toward universal clean energy access
The UNDP-REA partnership underscores a growing global push for Africa’s largest economy to accelerate its shift away from fossil fuels. Nigeria—rich in solar, wind, and hydro potential—has been under pressure to expand its renewable energy sector while creating sustainable jobs for its youthful population.
By combining policy support, financing, skills training, and research, both organisations expressed confidence that the agreement will speed up Nigeria’s journey toward universal access to clean energy and strengthen its position in the global renewable energy economy.