By Onu Okorie
Most speakers during the first Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum NREIF in Abuja yesterday points to the fact that it marks a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s search to energy sufficiency.
Speaking during the event, the Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima said that the forum marks a turning point in the collective resolve to shape Nigeria’s energy future, and is the first of its kind in Nigeria – a global platform dedicated to renewable energy innovation, local manufacturing, and clean technology.
According to him, “It brings together over 1,500 stakeholders: global dignitaries, investors, Original Equipment Manufacturers, innovators, policymakers, and leading Nigerian States. Together, we converge on one shared mission: to unlock the opportunities of Nigeria’s energy transition and establish our country as the hub for renewable energy manufacturing in Africa.”
He said that Nigeria’s energy transition presents an investment opportunity of $410 billion between now and 2060. Of this, more than $23 billion is required for expanding energy access, connecting millions of our citizens who still live in energy poverty.
But beyond access lies the grander ambition: to deliver a power system capable of 277 gigawatts of total installed capacity by 2060, driven by renewables, storage, grid expansion, and clean technology infrastructure. These are not just figures; they are opportunities for job creation, industrial expansion, private capital mobilization, and inclusive growth.
This is why the theme of NREIF 2025, “Implementing the Nigeria First Policy: Facilitating Local Content Development and Manufacturing in the Renewable Energy Ecosystem,” is so important. Our commitment to a Nigeria First industrial strategy is not a call to isolation; it is a call to anchor the future of Africa’s renewable energy supply chains in Nigeria.
From solar panel assembly lines in Lagos to battery recycling hubs in our industrial corridors, from leveraging strategic minerals in Nasarawa to expanding productive-use applications in rural communities, Nigeria must lead. At this point, let me commend the Federal Ministry of Power for its steadfast leadership in steering Nigeria’s energy transition agenda through clear and forward-looking policies that have laid the groundwork for a more decentralized, competitive, and inclusive electricity market.
“I also acknowledge the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for its pivotal role in translating these policies into tangible impact which includes: expanding distributed renewable energy access, extending the reach of the national grid, and strengthening the ecosystem that enables private sector participation.”
“It is therefore fitting that the Ministry and the REA are convening this historic Forum to move the national conversation from access to industrialization and from deployment to domestic manufacturing.” He explained.
“As we chart this path, let me assure you that the Federal Government remains resolutely committed to consolidating the policy foundations already in place. We are enhancing incentives for local manufacturing, streamlining regulatory frameworks, and deepening collaboration with State Governments, investors, and development partners to de-risk private capital and accelerate the growth of a self-sustaining renewable energy market.
“Yet, the task before us cannot be accomplished by government alone. To unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s energy transition, we need the private sector, our industrialists, innovators, and financiers , to take bold steps forward. We need our development partners and Original Equipment Manufacturers to localize technologies, strengthen value chains, and invest in skills and knowledge transfer.
And we count on our State Governments to champion renewable industrial clusters and serve as engines of green growth across the federation. This Forum is not merely for dialogue; it is for action. Over the next two days, agreements will be signed, new partnerships forged, and a national roadmap consolidated. I am pleased to announce that, through the engagements and partnerships facilitated under this Forum, more than $400 million in new investment commitments are being mobilized into Nigeria’s renewable energy manufacturing value chain, spanning solar panels, smart meters, battery storage and recycling.”
The VP said that the investments are projected to create over 1,500 direct jobs across multiple States and signal growing global confidence in Nigeria’s clean energy industrialization drive. These outcomes must not end in communiqués, but in factories, in jobs, in electrified schools, in thriving rural enterprises, and in resilient communities powered by clean energy .As I look around this hall, I see leaders who carry in their hands the keys to Africa’s energy future.
“Nigeria now stands at a crossroads: the world is racing toward net zero, Africa is rich with the minerals that power clean technologies, and Nigeria brings youth, ambition, and untapped renewable potential. Let us seize this moment. We will not stand on the sidelines we will be architects of change. Nigeria is ready. Nigeria is committed to harnessing our resources, unlocking capital, and becoming the vibrant heartbeat of Africa’s renewable energy revolution.” He said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency REA, Abba Aliyu explained that the inaugural Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum, gathering marks a new chapter for the nation’s power sector.
According to him, “We stand at the intersection of policy, innovation, and investment. NREIF 2025 isn’t just another event — it is a declaration that Nigeria is ready to lead Africa’s renewable energy transformation. Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministry of Power has worked tirelessly to translate ambition into policy and policy into action”.
“Last year, we completed and secured Federal Executive Council approval for the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan, the NIEP-SIP. This document is the most comprehensive power sector roadmap Nigeria has ever produced. It lays out, in clear terms, how we intend to deliver reliable power for all — through decentralization, renewable integration, and private sector–driven growth. It builds on the foundation of the Electricity Act 2023, which opened a new era of competition and collaboration — empowering States, investors, and communities to participate fully in generation, transmission, and distribution. Through this new framework, we are : Aligning national and state electricity markets to accelerate access and efficiency; Creating pathways for distributed renewables, storage, and grid-connected solutions; Strengthening local content and skills development so that more of what we install is also made here in Nigeria. But policy alone is not enough.”
“We have also moved decisively to restore confidence and liquidity in the market. Earlier this year, the Federal Government approved a ₦4 trillion debt refinancing plan, to resolve legacy payments owed to generation companies and gas suppliers — a bold step to rebuild trust and unlock new private investment. We are deepening payment assurance frameworks, promoting cost-reflective tariffs, and encouraging local and international financiers to invest in our growing project pipeline — from on-grid expansion to distributed renewable solutions.”
“This Forum is not about ideas alone — it is about alignment. Alignment between government and business, between innovation and industry, between global ambition and local capability. We are here because we recognize that the future of Nigeria’s power sector will be shaped not by imports, but by what we build, assemble, and innovate here at home. Already, through the strategic partnerships and investment deals being signed at this very Forum, we are bringing on stream nearly four gigawatts per annum of solar manufacturing capacity — equivalent to almost 80 percent of our current national generation capacity. With this scale of renewable energy production coming online, Nigeria is not only positioned to achieve its domestic renewable energy and energy transition targets, but also to serve regional power markets. This milestone is a powerful testament to the confidence that the private sector has in Nigeria’s policy direction, market fundamentals, and long-term growth trajectory. That is why this year’s theme implementing the Nigeria First Policy — speaks to something deeper than manufacturing.”
“It speaks to national confidence — to our determination that the next generation of clean energy technologies, from solar panels to battery systems, will carry the label “Made in Nigeria.”The Rural Electrification Agency, our implementing partner for this Forum, continues to play a pivotal role — extending electricity to unserved communities, scaling distributed renewable energy, and nurturing the ecosystem that gives confidence to investors and innovators alike. Together, the Ministry and REA are shifting the narrative — from access to industrialization, and from deployment to domestic value creation. To our partners — investors, OEMs, financiers, and innovators — Nigeria is open for business. Our market fundamentals are strong, our policy environment is clear, and our leadership is committed.”
The Forum was conceived from a simple but powerful idea — that the future of power in Nigeria will not be imported; it will be innovated, built, and sustained here at home.NREIF stands as a platform to connect policy ambition with market reality, research with investment, and innovation with implementation — a space where the ecosystem can co-create Nigeria’s renewable energy future.Why NREIF – and Why Now.
“We meet today at a defining time for the global energy landscape. Across the world, the energy transition is accelerating — driven by advances in solar technology, battery storage, and digital energy systems.Across the world, nations are repositioning their economies for the clean energy revolution. In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act has already catalyzed over US$1 trillion in new private clean energy investments, creating more than 400,000 jobs. In Europe, the Green Deal is mobilizing at least €1 trillion in sustainable investment, with over €150 billion earmarked for net-zero manufacturing. And in China, clean energy investment reached about US$940 billion last year — adding over 350 gigawatts of new wind and solar capacity.”
“Yet, as this momentum builds, Africa cannot afford to be left behind. Our continent holds nearly 60% of the world’s best solar resources, but attracts less than 3% of global renewable energy investment. The challenge before us is clear: we must convert this immense comparative advantage into competitive strength — by building industries, nurturing innovation, and driving the kind of local value creation that secures our place in the clean energy economyFor Nigeria, this moment is especially urgent.”
“Our population is projected to exceed 250 million by 2030, with rising urbanization, industrial demand, and digital infrastructure needs — from data centres to electric mobility — all requiring sustainable and reliable energy. The Nigerian government has already set ambitious targets: Achieving net-zero by 2060,Delivering 30GW of electricity by 2030, with at least 30% from renewables, And through our Energy Transition Plan (ETP) and Energy Compact, committing to mobilize over $10 billion in clean energy investment this decade. These commitments form the backdrop against which the NREIF becomes not just timely — but essential, as platform to translate targets into investments, and investments into impact. This Year’s Focus: The “Nigeria First” Policy.
“The theme for this year, “The Nigeria First Policy”, could not have come at a better time. It captures our collective aspiration to domesticate the technologies, industries, and capabilities that will power our energy future. For years, Nigeria has deployed renewable energy systems in thousands of communities, institutions, and industrial clusters. But to secure our long-term sustainability and economic competitiveness, we must now go further — to ensure that what we deploy is increasingly designed, assembled, and manufactured in Nigeria.”
