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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s renewable energy goals, emphasizing that creative partnerships between the public and private sectors, alongside research and innovation ecosystems, are vital to achieving sustainable energy transformation.
Speaking at the Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum in Abuja, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot represented by Deputy Ambassador Zissimos Vergos said the EU’s support for Nigeria’s power sector has exceeded €200 million in grants since 2008.
“Our most recent energy sector programme, launched in 2021 with a €100 million (₦175 billion) budget, aims to add 400 megawatts of new renewable capacity by 2027, directly benefiting more than five million Nigerians,” Mignot stated.
He noted that innovation-driven collaboration between the government, private sector, and research institutions is key to scaling sustainable energy solutions.
“The public sector brings policy frameworks; the private sector brings agility and technical expertise; research institutions bring insight and innovation,” he said.
Mignot added that off-grid renewable solutions are already transforming rural Nigeria through mini-grids and solar home systems powered by creative public–private partnerships.
Reiterating the EU’s commitment to Nigeria’s energy security and economic resilience, he cited ongoing support through initiatives such as GET.invest Nigeria and the EU’s Global Gateway, which focus on research funding, capacity building, and private sector investment.
He praised Nigeria’s efforts to build a green and circular economy, stressing that “the pace of the journey toward sustainable, accessible energy will depend on how successfully the public sector, private sector, and innovation ecosystem work together.”
Nigeria is currently positioning itself as Africa’s renewable energy hub, with projected investments of over $410 billion by 2060 under its Energy Transition Plan. The government has also signed over $400 million in renewable energy manufacturing and infrastructure deals, targeting local solar production capacity of nearly 4 GW and the creation of thousands of jobs.