EU, Other Development Partners Accelerates Solar Mini-Grid Project In North-West Nigeria

The European Union (EU);and other international development organizations have deepened their cooperation with Nigeria to provide reliable electricity to highly underserved communities in the country.

Their support led to the Minister of Power. Joseph Tegbe, commissioning a 581 kWp Interconnected Solar Mini-Grid system with a 1.4 MW battery storage system in Oke-Oyi Community, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State. 

The extended battery capacity enables the mini-grid to power the community throughout the night and reinforcing the Federal Government’s drive toward universal energy access.

The project, delivered under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS) and supported by the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), was made possible through the combined backing of the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany (through GIZ), and other development partners including UNICEF. 

Tegbe described IMAS as a model for how international partnership should work, noting that it leverages public funding to attract private developers, establishes clear market rules, and builds long-term commercial viability rather than dependence on perpetual subsidy.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) said Oke-Oyi demonstrates how interconnected mini-grids can combine distributed renewable energy with existing distribution networks to improve supply, attract private investment and support economic activity. He said the Agency is focused on scaling such models through stronger financing, regulatory and institutional frameworks, while ensuring commercial viability, proper maintenance and community ownership. He acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Power, Kwara State Government and development partners, as well as Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited, for their roles in delivering the project.

Representing His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, commended the visible impact of the Federal Government’s power sector reforms across the state. “Since this Minister of Power came on board, we have been enjoying stable electricity, not only in the cities, but also in the urban areas,” he said, adding that his own roots in a rural constituency underscored the significance of the project in curbing rural-urban migration. “As the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly and being from a rural area, we understand the importance of electricity in taming rural-urban migration. When you came on board, you quickly keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President to deliver dividends to the people. I can categorically say that you are performing,” he said.

In his address, Tegbe urged the people of Oke-Oyi to guard the newly commissioned assets against vandalism and criminal interference, describing the mini-grid as an investment built for their benefit and for the prosperity of generations to come. He officially declared the project commissioned on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, congratulating the Oke-Oyi community and all stakeholders who contributed to its delivery.

“As we energize this community, we are also energizing businesses, creating opportunities, empowering young people, improving livelihoods, and building a more resilient future for Nigeria,” the Minister said, commending the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose administration, he noted, continues to pursue the fundamental reforms required to build a stronger, more reliable and more sustainable electricity sector for the country.

The Oke-Oyi mini-grid which is set to power 1,800 businesses and households, adds to a growing portfolio of rural and off-grid electrification projects delivered under the Renewed Hope Agenda, as the government continues to expand access, strengthen energy security, and advance Nigeria’s transition toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.