Nigerian Scholar, Jumbo, unveils legal Blueprint for advancing Renewable Energy development for West Africa 

Ezekiel Okpuzor

A Nigerian legal scholar, Dr. Ibiere Helen Jumbo, has been commended for her pioneering academic work on renewable energy development in West Africa, with experts describing her research as a potential roadmap for sustainable energy transition across the ECOWAS subregion.

Dr. Jumbo, a recipient of the 2016 Nigeria LNG Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship, has completed her PhD in Energy and Environmental Law at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Her research focuses on the effectiveness of the ECOWAS Supplementary Act on Renewable Energy Development Policy (2013) and its impact on on-grid renewable electricity across member states.

According to Dr. Jumbo, findings from her thesis offers an indepth   analysis of the persistent legal, structural, and policy barriers impeding the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Energy Framework. Her work identifies critical gaps in the regional policy architecture and advances a suite of pragmatic reforms designed to strengthen regulatory compliance, accelerate infrastructure development, and foster meaningful stakeholder engagement across West Africa’s energy sector.

A central finding of her research is that the absence of a binding enforcement mechanism within the ECOWAS framework has left national renewable electricity targets largely aspirational, with implementation dependent on variable political will. By conducting a comparative study of the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive, Dr. Jumbo proposes the introduction of “soft enforcement mechanisms” that respect national sovereignty while enhancing accountability—measures such as mandatory periodic reporting of national obligations, standardized performance tracking, and built-in review cycles to refine targets and policies over time.

Her approach, endorsed by senior energy law and policy experts, is both legally sound and politically feasible, offering a pathway to accelerate regional progress without overstepping the jurisdiction of member states. Through a nuanced comparative analysis, she demonstrates how such accountability measures could be embedded within ECOWAS instruments, drawing on concrete case studies from Nigeria and Ghana to illustrate practical alignment with local political realities, institutional capacities, and market conditions.

In doing so, Dr. Jumbo not only articulates a blueprint for reform that is regionally adaptable and context-sensitive but also sets forth an actionable framework capable of bridging the gap between  national level commitments and on-the-ground renewable energy growth  in West Africa.


Speaking to our correspondent, Dr. Jumbo noted that the project was inspired by her desire to promote sustainable energy governance in Africa, particularly for under-served communities that continue to suffer from energy poverty despite the regions abundant renewable energy potential.

“Renewable energy isn’t just a climate issue; it’s a justice issue. West Africa must develop laws and policies that not only promote green energy but also empower communities through fair access,” she said.

Dr. Jumbo’s academic journey began at the University of Aberdeen in 2017 when she commenced her Master of Laws (LLM) in Energy and Environmental Law under the sponsorship of the Nigeria LNG scholarship. Her outstanding performance later earned her another competitive award from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in 2019 to pursue a PhD in the same field.

Her work has since been recognised within academic and policy circles, with experts describing it as a critical contribution to West Africa’s push towards energy sustainability. Analysts say her recommendations offer a practical legal framework for ECOWAS Member States seeking to transition from fossil fuel dependency to cleaner energy sources.

Amidst her academic achievements, Dr Jumbo has also been involved in community engagement initiatives, mentoring young scholars, especially women via Women in Renewable energy Association (WIRE-A), across Africa.