146
Daniel Adaji
Nigeria has secured a $500m fund to boost solar energy adoption under a new partnership with the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The agreement, part of a three-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF), was signed by the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and ISA Director General, Mr. Ashish Khanna, during the Seventh Regional Committee Meeting for Africa held in Accra, Ghana, recently.
The minister disclosed to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
The fund, known as the Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) Nigeria Fund, is designed to catalyze investment in renewable energy projects across the country. It will be supported by enhanced regulatory backing from the Ministry of Power.
“This partnership is about more than light; it’s about powering development. Decentralised renewable energy solutions are not merely about providing light to households, they are about unlocking development, powering schools and clinics, energising small and medium enterprises, supporting agricultural processing, driving e-mobility, and opening opportunities for digital inclusion in rural communities. Every mini-grid and solar system deployed means a child can study, a clinic can function, an entrepreneur can thrive, and a farmer can irrigate his fields. This is the transformational promise of renewable energy for Africa.”
The CPF sets out a comprehensive plan to expand Nigeria’s solar sector over the next three years. Areas of focus include advocacy, capacity building, and programmatic support. Specific initiatives target rooftop solar installations, deployment of mini-grids, expansion of solar use in agriculture, and the establishment of a Solar Technology and Application Resource (STAR) Centre.
The deal was signed alongside similar agreements by Ghana and The Gambia, highlighting a regional push for cleaner energy solutions. With this step, Nigeria is placing solar power at the core of its energy transition strategy while advancing toward a more inclusive and climate-resilient economy.