LAGOS/Nigeria: Renewable energy industry leaders have called for stronger cooperation among developers, investors, policymakers and professional associations, arguing that Africa’s energy transition will deliver greater economic benefits if stakeholders work towards a more coordinated market.
The call was made at a news conference in Lagos on Thursday ahead of the Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) 2026, organised by the African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) and scheduled to hold on November 25 and 26.
Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Mini-grid Developers Association (AMDA), Lamide Niyi-Afuye, said closer collaboration among industry associations was necessary to address common challenges and accelerate electricity access across the continent.
He argued that Africa’s renewable energy agenda should not be limited to connecting households and communities to electricity but should also focus on how reliable power can stimulate production, create employment and strengthen local economies.
According to him, dependable electricity can help farmers process and preserve agricultural produce, enable businesses to expand operations and improve the delivery of essential services, including healthcare, education and digital connectivity.
Niyi-Afuye said the impact of the energy transition should therefore be assessed beyond the number of new electricity connections. He identified job creation, business growth, improved household incomes and the economic value generated by access to power as equally important measures of progress.
He also stressed the need for different energy solutions to complement one another, noting that national grids, mini-grids and standalone renewable energy systems each have a role to play, depending on the needs, affordability and economic circumstances of particular communities.
Director of Operations at AFSIA, Benjamin Clarke, said cooperation across the renewable energy value chain was critical to attracting investment and ensuring that projects were developed on sustainable foundations.
He identified developers, equipment manufacturers, government institutions, regulators, financial organisations and industry associations as important partners whose contributions must be properly coordinated.
Clarke explained that while governments and regulators have responsibilities in creating supportive policies, financial institutions must provide suitable funding mechanisms, while industry players should ensure that proposed interventions reflect actual market conditions.
He cited collaboration among industry associations as one of the factors that had supported the development of Nigeria’s mini-grid regulatory framework. He added that mini-grids were increasingly being recognised as essential infrastructure for expanding electricity supply, rather than temporary alternatives to conventional grid systems.
Clarke maintained that Nigeria’s persistent electricity shortfall made it necessary to pursue different approaches to power generation and distribution.
Also speaking, Senior Sales Manager, West Africa, at Jinko Solar, Esther Eyenobong, said about 86 million Nigerians still lacked access to electricity, underscoring the scale of the country’s energy challenge.
She said the company was introducing modern solar technologies designed to respond to Nigeria’s electricity needs.
The discussions ahead of REFA 2026 come amid growing calls for investment, regulatory coordination and stronger partnerships to expand renewable energy deployment across Nigeria and other African markets.
