700 Women, Youths Prepare For Energy Career Through USAID Aid

A pity 700 Nigerian women and youths have benefited from intensive energy career development and fully prepared to launch into Nigeria’s proliferating energy industry.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Power Africa announced the successful conclusion of a Biden-Harris Administration priority program to advance women’s participation in the energy sector’s transition to clean energy technologies.

Since its launch in September 2023, the growing jobs for women in Nigeria program has equipped over 700 women and youth with enhanced skills and expanded career opportunities within Nigeria’s clean energy sector.

Through the programme, Power Africa provided comprehensive training in areas such as solar installation, off-grid project management, communication skills, leadership, climate finance, financial modelling, investment pitching, productive use equipment, and employability skills.

The ‘Elevate: Women’s Solar Installation Certification Course,’ a key component of the program, trained 88 women across Lagos, Ibadan, and Abuja. The course offered hands-on training in solar photovoltaic installation and certification under the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria’s Nigerian Competency Standards for Clean Energy.

Power Africa also organised career fairs in Abuja and Lagos to train participating organisations on gender inclusion best practices, and to connect trained professionals with potential employers. Around 40 clean energy companies participated in these organisational training and networking fairs, providing interested participants job shadowing opportunities.