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By Daniel Adaji
The British Council has recognised a Nigerian renewable energy start-up project – ecoWise platform as a transformative tool in unlocking energy access across the country and beyond.
It also noted that the platform provides a novel, scalable model for clean energy financing through environmental credits.
Speaking during the unveiling of the ecoWise pilot project in Abuja on Friday, the Director of Programmes at the British Council, Mr. Chikodi Onyemerela, said the initiative has the potential to address Nigeria’s chronic energy poverty while contributing to global climate action.
“Today, we shine a spotlight on the transformative potential of ecoWise, a platform designed to unlock climate finance at scale for solar energy developers,” Onyemerela said.
“This is not just innovation for innovation’s sake. It is innovation in translating research and data into real products and services,” he added.
He emphasised the need for local solutions to energy transition challenges, calling ecoWise a model of inclusive and research-driven innovation.
“We are investing in platforms like ecoWise that streamline and monetize environmental credit data – unlocking finance through a third-party marketplace to scale clean energy by 2030. It’s a game-changer in reducing the cost of solar energy and making it accessible to underserved communities,” he said.
The British Council, which funds the ecoWise project, is also supporting broader efforts in climate education and energy access. Onyemerela announced that 72 young people across the ECOWAS region have received scholarships to pursue master’s degrees in renewable energy, with three Nigerian universities – University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Ibadan, and Obafemi Awolowo University participating.
“Our support goes beyond funding. It includes capacity building, cross-sectoral collaboration, and connecting Nigerian entrepreneurs with global standards,” Onyemerela noted.
The ecoWise project, developed by Vectar Energy and hosted at Innov8 Hub, is Africa’s first embedded platform that converts clean energy data into verifiable environmental credits, allowing developers to access climate finance by tracking solar energy production in real time. This is enabled through a proprietary digital Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system, which ensures each carbon credit is backed by traceable data.
Launched in 2020, Vectar Energy is a Nigerian climate-tech startup focused on combating energy poverty through technology-driven clean energy solutions. ecoWise, its flagship product, enables solar mini-grid developers to monetize environmental impact, thus unlocking capital to scale projects.
According to founder of Vectar Energy and convener of ecoWise, Deborah Fadeyi, “ecoWise is Africa’s first embedded platform that transforms environmental commodities into real funding. We are working to bring Nigeria among countries with the highest access to solar energy by making clean energy affordable through data-backed climate finance.”
Fadeyi highlighted Nigeria’s energy crisis, noting that 86 million Nigerians lack access to electricity, resulting in an annual economic loss of $26 billion. With over 133 million Nigerians living in poverty, many spend up to 40% of their income on electricity.
Chief Technical Officer of ecoWise Habeeb Mustapha, explained the technical mechanism behind the device:
“We have this device to track kilowatt-hours in real time, using GPS and cloud connectivity. An AI and machine learning algorithm verifies that the data is truly from solar sources. The funds generated from carbon credits can then be reinvested into new solar projects.”
Representing Ceesolar Energy
Engr. Chibueze Ekeh lauded the innovation as “homegrown and impactful,” calling it a model for how environmental commodities can become attractive to investors.
“This is innovation in terms of business model and application of technology. But most importantly, it’s local innovation. We are happy to partner to ensure that ecoWise gets the right data and support to scale,” he said.
Tolulope Aina, Head of Programmes and Ventures at Innov8 Hub, which incubated the project, described ecoWise as a product of sustained support from ideation to deployment.
“We met Vectar at the idea stage. Through our incubation programmes, we’ve provided them with resources, infrastructure, and technical mentorship. Today, they are building a solution that unlocks green financing for Nigeria and Africa,” Aina said.
She added that Innov8 Hub remains committed to supporting research commercialization, enterprise development, and climate resilience.