By Abdullahi Lukman
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have signed a strategic partnership to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to clean energy, boost innovation, and develop a future-ready energy workforce.
Announced in Abuja on Friday, the agreement focuses on five core areas: energising education and innovation, expanding skills development, supporting state-level policy reforms, unlocking financing models, and promoting research and public engagement.
REA Managing Director/CEO, Abba Aliyu, described the collaboration as a “game-changer,” stating it will build on the Federal Government’s renewable energy efforts, enhance local manufacturing, and attract sustainable investments.
He emphasized that practical strategies in local content, finance, and research are crucial to unlocking clean energy potential while cutting governance costs.
UNDP’s Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms Elsie G. Attafuah, called the partnership a bold move toward sustainability, aiming to drive access to energy, youth empowerment, and job creation.
She also highlighted the need to process local resources like lithium into high-value products and embed innovation into academic institutions.
Key initiatives under the agreement include integrating UNDP’s University Innovation Pods into REA’s Energising Education Programme, scaling the NEXTGEN initiative to train clean energy professionals, and supporting states to implement the Electricity Act.
Both agencies will jointly mobilise blended finance to de-risk investments, generate energy sector data, and launch public engagement campaigns to increase clean energy adoption.
The partnership aligns with REA’s mandate to serve underserved communities and UNDP’s vision for inclusive, resilient development.
Officials from both organisations expressed confidence that the partnership will accelerate Nigeria’s path toward universal clean energy access and a greener economy.
