Nigeria forges strategic solar alliance to power sustainable future
Orisemeke Benjamin
In a major step toward a clean energy future, the Federal has signed a comprehensive Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The agreement was formalized by Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and ISA Director General Mr. Ashish Khanna at the ISA’s Seventh Regional Committee Meeting for Africa, hosted in Accra, Ghana, from 2–4 September 2025.
The event brought together African governments, development partners, and financial institutions to chart a common pathway for expanding solar energy adoption across the continent.
The partnership establishes a robust three-year action plan to accelerate Nigeria’s solar energy adoption, focusing on key areas like advocacy, capacity building, and programmatic support. Key initiatives include scaling up solar applications in agriculture, promoting rooftop solar installations, deploying mini-grids, and establishing a Solar Technology and Application Resource (STAR) Centre.
A cornerstone of the framework is the creation of a $500 million DRE Nigeria Fund, designed to catalyze investment in distributed renewable energy projects and backed by enhanced regulatory support from the Ministry of Power.
“This partnership is about more than light; it’s about powering development,” stated Chief Adelabu. “Decentralised renewable energy solutions are not merely about providing light to households, they are about unlocking development, powering schools and clinics, energising small and medium enterprises, supporting agricultural processing, driving e-mobility, and opening opportunities for digital inclusion in rural communities.
“Every mini-grid and solar system deployed means a child can study, a clinic can function, an entrepreneur can thrive, and a farmer can irrigate his fields. This is the transformational promise of renewable energy for Africa.”
The signing, which also saw Ghana and The Gambia enter similar agreements, signals a powerful wave of regional cooperation.
By placing solar energy at the heart of its national strategy, Nigeria is decisively advancing toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient economy.
