UNDP, REA Seal Deal to Fast-Track Nigeria’s Clean Energy Future
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have entered into what PulseNets learnt is a groundbreaking partnership to accelerate Nigeria’s clean energy transition, boost innovation, and prepare a future-ready workforce.
According to reports obtained by PulseNets, the collaboration is anchored on five strategic pillars — energizing education and innovation, expanding skills development, supporting state-level policy reforms, unlocking innovative financing, and advancing research and communication. These areas, stakeholders believe, will deliver sustainable and inclusive growth in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
At the official signing ceremony in Abuja, the Managing Director of REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the deal as “a game-changer for Nigeria’s clean energy future.” He told PulseNets that the initiative would build on the Federal Government’s renewable energy scale-up drive, unlock new opportunities in local content and manufacturing, and attract sustainable investments into the sector.
“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a renewable energy hub, reduce governance costs, and catalyze innovation, research, and development,” Aliyu stated.
The REA boss further explained that the REA–UNDP partnership pillars are designed to advance ongoing work in Nigeria’s clean energy space. He emphasized that the initiative would catalyze opportunities across critical ecosystems while unlocking innovation, R&D, local expertise, and sustainable financing models.
Abba told PulseNets that Nigeria has a huge untapped energy market, stressing that practical strategies on local content, indigenous manufacturing, and innovative financing will not only cut governance costs but also enhance sustainability in the long term.
On her part, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, hailed the partnership as a bold and strategic step.
“This collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency is 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. We are moving beyond simply powering communities to igniting their full potential,” she said.
Speaking further, Ms. Attafuah emphasized the importance of transforming Nigeria’s natural resources, such as lithium, into high-value renewable products like lithium battery systems. She explained that innovation, research, and development must remain central in learning institutions to catalyze the creation of green jobs across the country.
“This partnership reflects UNDP’s commitment to locally driven, inclusive, and resilient development, and REA’s mandate to bring sustainable energy to Nigeria’s unserved and underserved communities. Together, both organizations aim to accelerate the nation’s journey toward universal clean energy access and a greener, more prosperous future,” she concluded.
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With this landmark agreement, experts told PulseNets that Nigeria is now better positioned to leverage clean energy for economic growth, youth employment, and industrial innovation, while also meeting global climate commitments.
