UNDP, REA partner on clean energy transition

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have entered into a strategic partnership to fast-track Nigeria’s clean energy transition, foster innovation, and prepare a new generation of professionals for a future-ready energy sector.

The collaboration, formalised at a signing ceremony in Abuja on Friday, is anchored on five pillars: energising education and innovation, scaling up skills development, supporting state-level policy reforms, unlocking innovative financing, and advancing research and public engagement.

Speaking at the event, REA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abba Aliyu, described the agreement as “a game-changer” for Nigeria’s renewable energy ambitions. According to him, the partnership will build on the Federal Government’s ongoing renewable energy scale-up efforts, unlock opportunities in local content and manufacturing, and drive sustainable investment into the sector.

“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a renewable energy hub, reduce governance costs, and catalyse innovation, research and development,” Aliyu stated. He added that advancing clean energy will require practical measures such as strengthening local content, boosting domestic manufacturing, and deploying innovative finance solutions.

Aliyu further explained that the REA–UNDP partnership would catalyse opportunities across Nigeria’s clean energy ecosystem by advancing research and development, driving local expertise, and attracting green investments.

UNDP’s Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie G. Attafuah, echoed the optimism, describing the deal as a bold step toward a sustainable and prosperous future for the country. She said the collaboration would go beyond expanding access to clean energy, serving as “a powerful engine for innovation, youth empowerment, and job creation.”

“We are moving beyond simply powering communities to igniting their full potential,” Attafuah said. She also emphasised the importance of processing Nigeria’s natural resources, such as lithium, into value-added renewable energy products like battery systems, and embedding innovation and research into universities and technical institutions to catalyse the creation of green jobs.

Under the agreement, UNDP’s University Innovation Pods and Maker Spaces will be integrated into REA’s Energising Education Programme, transforming federal universities and teaching hospitals into hubs of hands-on innovation. The partnership will also expand REA’s NEXTGEN initiative, which is designed to train a new generation of clean energy professionals, creating a national pipeline of skilled talent to tackle youth unemployment in the sector.

At the state level, UNDP and REA will provide policy and technical support to help governments implement the Electricity Act and harmonise subnational energy policies. On financing, the partnership will adopt blended finance models to de-risk renewable energy projects, attract private sector capital, and strengthen the Rural Electrification Fund.

Additionally, both organisations will collaborate to generate robust data on sustainable energy progress and launch public engagement campaigns to build policy support and promote consumer adoption of renewable energy.

According to both agencies, the initiative reflects UNDP’s commitment to inclusive, locally driven development and REA’s mandate to expand access to clean, reliable power for unserved and underserved communities. They expressed optimism that the partnership will accelerate Nigeria’s drive towards universal clean energy access and a greener economy.