By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, says the agency’s renewable energy expansion programmes are improving electricity access, strengthening climate resilience, and creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians across the country.
Speaking at the high-level Conference of Youth on Environment and Climate (COYEC) in Abuja on Thursday, Dr. Aliyu noted that millions of Nigerians still lack access to electricity, making rural electrification critical to sustainable development and economic inclusion.
Persecondnews correspondent at the event reports that COYEC 2026 which concluded its two-day hybrid event in Abuja today, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders focused on the theme, “Future of Work, Technology, and Sustainability in a Changing Environment.”
Organized under the auspices of SDSN Youth Nigeria (Sustainable Development Solutions Network), the primary stakeholder groups in attendance included youth leaders and student advocates, climate experts and academic researchers, and professionals from various industries and academia.
Others are NGOs, environmental advocates, civil society groups, and grassroots change-makers focusing on community-led sustainability practices and green job creation as well as government agencies and policymakers.
Aliyu explained that the agency is deploying solar mini-grids, standalone solar systems, and other clean energy technologies to underserved communities in a bid to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and improve livelihoods.
“Communities previously left behind are gaining access to reliable and sustainable electricity. Schools can now access digital tools, healthcare centres can refrigerate vaccines, while businesses can operate longer hours and improve productivity,” he said.
According to him, the REA has already impacted more than eight million Nigerians through projects executed across the healthcare, agriculture, and education sectors, with over 120 megawatts of installed renewable energy capacity delivered nationwide.
Aliyu added that the agency is currently implementing major electrification initiatives in collaboration with international development partners, including the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Nigeria Electrification Project.
The REA boss noted that the agency is also investing heavily in human capacity development to ensure sustainability within the renewable energy sector.
According to him, world-class renewable energy training centres are being established in universities benefiting from mini-grid projects, with students receiving technical training in areas such as soil testing, solar installation, and infrastructure maintenance.
“Sustainability is not only about building infrastructure, but also about ensuring we have the technical workforce capable of maintaining these systems,” he emphasized.
He also defended the planned solarisation of the Presidential Villa, arguing that Nigeria must diversify its energy supply beyond dependence on the national grid.
Aliyu noted, that critical infrastructure such as airports, hospitals, universities, and government institutions require dedicated power systems capable of operating independently during grid failures.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government recently approved about N100 billion for the solarisation of public institutions, including universities and polytechnics nationwide.