By Abdullahi Lukman
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the the European Union (EU), have jointly launched a new initiative aimed at advancing small hydropower development in Nigeria.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity, promote food security, and support the country’s transition to renewable energy.
Unveiled during a two-day workshop in Abuja, the project, titled “Promoting Small Hydropower Development and Circular Economy Approaches in Nigeria”, is funded by the European Union.
It consists of two major components: the Small Hydro Power Development for Agro-Industry Use in Nigeria (SHP-DAIN) and an initiative promoting Nigeria’s green and just transition to net-zero emissions through circular economy practices.
National Programme Officer of UNIDO, Mr. Reuben Bamidele, said the SHP-DAIN project is designed to integrate small hydropower systems into Nigeria’s energy mix, with a focus on powering agricultural value chains across the six geopolitical zones.
He emphasized the project’s potential to create decent jobs, improve rural livelihoods, and promote food self-sufficiency.
Bamidele also pointed out the existing challenges in Nigeria’s energy sector — particularly in generation, transmission, and distribution — and underscored the need for community engagement and water resource management in the successful implementation of SHP systems.
A core focus of the initiative, he noted, is to build both human and institutional capacity among policymakers, developers, and financial stakeholders.
The EU’s Programme Manager for Energy, Green, and Circular Economy in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Godfrey Ogbemudia, reaffirmed the EU’s continued support, announcing a €5,000 contribution to the project.
He highlighted previous EU investments in Nigeria’s renewable sector, including training for over 100 developers under the Nigerian Energy Support Programme.
Ogbemudia emphasized the importance of ensuring the scalability and sustainability of renewable energy ventures through knowledge transfer, seed funding, and institutional collaboration.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, represented by Deputy Director of Renewable Energy, Mr. Adebayo Adebeji, praised the initiative as timely and essential for revitalizing rural energy access and agricultural productivity.
Also the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. John Owa-Akeno, represented by Mr. Akeju Olutayo, highlighted Nigeria’s abundant water and land resources, positioning it to lead in agro-industrial development powered by renewable energy.
