UNDP, REA Partner On Nigeria’s Clean Energy Transition, Innovation

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have formalised a landmark partnership to accelerate Nigeria’s clean energy transition, boost innovation, and prepare a future-ready workforce.

The collaboration will focus on five core pillars: energising education and innovation, expanding skills development, supporting state-level policy reforms, unlocking innovative financing, and advancing research and communication to deliver sustainable and inclusive growth.

At the signing ceremony in Abuja, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, MD/CEO of REA, described the partnership as a game-changer for Nigeria’s clean energy future and emphasised that the initiative will build on ongoing federal government renewable energy scale-up efforts, unlock opportunities in local content and manufacturing, and drive sustainable investment.

“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a renewable energy hub, reduce governance costs, and catalyse innovation, research, and development,” Dr. Aliyu stated.

MD REA added that “the REA-UNDP partnership pillars are specifically targeted at advancing ongoing efforts in the clean energy space in Nigeria, catalysing opportunities across critical ecosystems and unlocking the full potential in innovation, R&D, I local expertise and sustainable investment”.

Abba emphasised the value of turning Nigeria into the renewable energy hub of Nigeria, leveraging the huge energy market in Nigeria and exploring practical strategies on I ocal content, local manufacturing and innovative finance. This, he said, will cut cost of governance and advance sustainability.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, UNDP resident representative in Nigeria, stated, “This collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency is a bold step toward a more sustainable and prosperous Nigeria. Our partnership will not only provide access to clean energy but also serve as a powerful engine for innovation, youth empowerment, and job creation. We are moving beyond simply powering communities to igniting their full potential.”

Ms. Elsie emphasised how important it is for the nation to transform its natural resources, such lithium, into impactful renewable products like the lithium battery systems. She explained that innovation, research and development must continue to form a central part of learning institutions to catalyse the creation of green jobs in Nigeria.

The REA said that key pillars of the REA-UNDP Partnership include: Energising Education & Innovation, Integrating UNDP’s University Innovation Pods (UNIPODS) and Maker Spaces into REA’s Energising Education Programme (EEP) to transform universities and teaching hospitals into innovation hubs. This will transform federal universities and teaching hospitals into hubs of innovation, providing students with the resources to develop practical skills and build solutions for local and national challenges.

Others are: Scaling the NEXTGEN Initiative: UNDP will support the expansion of REA’s NEXTGEN initiative, a critical program designed to train a new generation of clean energy professionals. This collaboration will create a national pipeline of talent, address youth unemployment and equipping young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in the growing clean energy sector; State-Level Policy Support – Providing technical and policy guidance to help states implement the Electricity Act effectively and harmonise energy policies. Through state-to-state engagements, UNDP and REA will offer technical assistance and policy guidance to help subnational goverments navigate the new regulatory framework and develop harmonise d energy policies as well as Innovative Financing – Leveraging blended finance to de-risk projects, attract private capital, and strengthen the Rural Electrification Fund (RE F) and Research & Communication Jointly producing robust data and evidence on sustainable energy progress to ensure interventions are targeted and impactful, as well as public engagement campaigns to inform policy and drive support for clean energy adoption.

This partnership reflects UNDP’s commitment to locally driven, inclusive, and resilient development, and REA’s mandate to bring sustainable energy to Nigeria’s unserved an d underserved communities. Together, both organisations aim to accelerate the nation’s journey toward universal clean energy access and a greener, more prosperous