The Rural Electrification Agency with funding support from the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme has kicked off a five-year rural electrification project.
Tagged, ‘Derisking Sustainable Off-grid Lighting Solution in Nigeria’, direct beneficiaries of the $2.9 million project are estimated at 96,380 persons out of which 47,540 are expected to be women.
At the official launch of the project last week in Abuja were the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmed Salihijo Ahmed; Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Sanusi Ohiare; representative of the UNDP, Mohamad Yahya, as well as the Project Manager, ‘Derisking Sustainable Off-grid Lighting Solution in Nigeria’, Bala Tyoden.
The partners disclosed that the project was financed by GEF with $2.6 million and supported by UNDP with $30
In his address of welcome, Ahmad expressed the need for effective collaborations in achieving rural electrification project.
While commending the financial support from GEF and UNDP, he reiterated the imperative of rural electrification to national development and beckoned on the private sector for investment collaborations in renewable energy in the country.
The Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Sanusi Ohiare, also elaborated on the objectives of the programme as well as its immense positive impacts on the socio-economic development of rural dwellers, and tasked the technical working groups to ensure the project succeeds.
