UNDP, REA Launch Partnership to Drive Nigeria’s Clean Energy Agenda

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have formalised a ‘landmark’ partnership to accelerate Nigeria’s clean energy transition, boost innovation, and prepare a future-ready workforce.

The collaboration, a statement from the REA, said will focus on five core pillars — energising education and innovation, expanding skills development, supporting state-level policy reforms, unlocking innovative financing, and advancing research and communication to deliver sustainable and inclusive growth.

At the signing ceremony in Abuja, Chief Executive of REA, Abba Aliyu, described the partnership as a ‘game-changer’ for Nigeria’s clean energy future, emphasising that the initiative will build on ongoing federal government’s renewable energy scale-up efforts, unlock opportunities in local content and manufacturing, and drive sustainable investment.

“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a renewable energy hub, reduce governance costs, and catalyze innovation, research, and development. The REA-UNDP partnership pillars are specifically targeted at advancing ongoing efforts in the clean energy space in Nigeria, catalyzing opportunities across critical ecosystems and unlocking the full potentials in innovation, R&D, local expertise and sustainable investment,” Aliyu said.

He emphasised the value of turning Nigeria into the renewable energy hub of Nigeria, leveraging the huge energy market in Nigeria and exploring practical strategies on local content, local manufacturing and innovative finance. This, he said, will cut the cost of governance and advance sustainability.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie  Attafuah, stated that the collaboration with the REA was a bold step toward a more sustainable and prosperous Nigeria. 

“Our partnership will not only provide access to clean energy but also serve as a powerful engine for innovation, youth empowerment, and job creation. We are moving beyond simply powering communities to igniting their full potential,” she stated.

She highlighted how important it is for the nation to transform its natural resources, such as lithium, into impactful renewable products like the lithium battery systems. She explained that innovation, research and development must continue to form a central part of learning institutions to catalyse the creation of green jobs in Nigeria.

The REA–UNDP partnership, according to the agency, will integrate UNDP’s University Innovation Pods (UNIPODS) and Maker Spaces into REA’s Energising Education Programme (EEP) to transform universities and teaching hospitals into innovation hubs. 

This, it said, will transform federal universities and teaching hospitals into hubs of innovation, providing students with the resources to develop practical skills and build solutions for local and national challenges.

UNDP, it said, will support the expansion of REA’s ‘nextgen’ initiative, a critical programme designed to train a new generation of clean energy professionals. This collaboration will create a national pipeline of talent, address youth unemployment and equipping young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in the growing clean energy sector.

Other benefits of the partnership include providing technical and policy guidance to help states implement the Electricity Act effectively and harmonise energy policies. 

“Through state-to-state engagements, UNDP and REA will offer technical assistance and policy guidance to help subnational governments navigate the new regulatory framework and develop harmonized energy policies.

“It will leverage blended finance to de-risk projects, attract private capital, and strengthen the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and jointly produce robust data and evidence on sustainable energy progress to ensure interventions are targeted and impactful, as well as public engagement campaigns to inform policy and drive support for clean energy adoption,” the statement added.

According to the agency, the partnership reflects UNDP’s commitment to locally driven, inclusive, and resilient development, and REA’s mandate to bring sustainable energy to Nigeria’s unserved and underserved communities.