Under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Power, Nigeria, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) of Nigeria is set to play a key role at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the 5th of December, 2023.
As a leading force in advancing sustainable energy access and climate change interventions in Nigeria, the REA will host a multi-format Side Event at the Nigeria Pavilion themed “Renewable Energy for Inclusive Development: Optimizing Innovation for Social Impact and Economic Growth in Nigeria on December 5, 2023.
The REA will be holding a second Side Event at 4 PM on “Funding the Energy Access Gap in Last-Mile Communities in Nigeria on the same day, in partnership with InfraCredit, an institution reputable for unlocking long-term local currency infrastructure finance in Nigeria. This second side event is targeted at a more specialized group of renewable energy developers, financiers, and investors in the global off-grid space. Both events are scheduled to be held at the Nigeria Pavilion, Blue Zone, COP28, Expo City Dubai.
Scheduled to be a focal point in the COP28 agenda, the REA’s side event aims to spotlight the nation’s data-driven energy transition journey as well as the agency’s suite of renewable energy interventions and their impact across the key sectors of the economy.
With a keen focus on optimizing innovation for both social impact, economic growth, and environmental sustainability, the agency will showcase its mitigation and adaptation interventions through the use of sustainable energy solutions as it addresses the dual challenge of energy poverty, climate change, and sustainable growth in Nigeria.
The REA, an Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the Federal Ministry of Power, is primarily tasked with the electrification of rural and unserved communities. Through data-driven and human-centered interventions, the Agency continues to partner with frontline stakeholders globally to deliver innovative solutions to power last-mile communities, healthcare institutions, tertiary institutions, market clusters, and agricultural value chains.
In four short years, the Agency has deployed over 100 solar hybrid mini-grids and over 1.6 million solar home systems, catalyzing transformative development in last-mile communities in Nigeria, unlocking the economic potential of $9.2B per annum and cutting the self-generation cost of $14B in 10 years.
Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, the MD/CEO, of REA, explained that “The agency’s presence at COP28 is a testament to our dedication to delivering sustainable and equitable energy access interventions. We believe that renewable energy is not just a source of power but a catalyst for transformative change, touching every aspect of society and economy.”
Source: Rural Electrification Agency