REA, Mente Energy Sign MoU To Push Local Energy Production

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Mente Energy Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive local energy production and deepen Nigeria’s renewable-energy market.

It will be implemented under the Renewable Energy Localisation and Industrialisation Programme (RELIP).

RELIP is a national programme designed to structure Nigeria’s rapidly growing renewable-energy market to catalyse investment, generate skilled industrial employment and build a domestic clean-energy manufacturing base in partnership with global capital.

The programme, which is led by REA and guided by the Nigeria-first principles, seeks to establish data, institutional architecture and demand signals required to allow capital of every origin – Nigerian, international, development finance and private institutional – to invest in the country’s clean-energy value chain with greater confidence and at greater scale.

In a statement signed by the director of Delivery at Mente Energy, Abiola Adekunle, the managing director/chief executive officer of REA, Abba Aliyu, said the programme would ensure that more economic value from renewable energy deployment remains within Nigeria.

He said, “Nigeria has built significant momentum in decentralised renewable energy but until now, the economic value has largely flowed offshore.

“RELIP changes that. By organising national demand and building the institutional framework, we are creating conditions for investment, jobs and industrial growth to take root locally.”

Aliyu added that the agency remained committed to working with both local and international partners to develop a clean-energy industrial base that prioritises Nigeria.

On his part, the founder and managing partner of Mente Energy, Tolu Osekita, described Nigeria’s renewable energy sector as a major industrial opportunity

“What RELIP does is put structure around that opportunity so that capital of every origin can invest here with greater confidence and at greater scale,” he said.

He added that the programme would drive factory production, job creation and investment while strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global clean-energy value chain.

The MoU outlines a five-year framework for collaboration, with RELIP as its first priority.

Aliyu noted that Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most dynamic renewable energy markets, with increasing adoption of solar home systems, mini-grids and commercial energy solutions.

He added that while international partners had played key roles in the sector’s growth, RELIP would deepen local participation by strengthening supply chains and encouraging domestic production.

According to him, the programme is expected to attract long-term investment, create skilled jobs and position Nigeria as a hub for clean-energy development in West Africa.