Global Leaders Canvass $20m Catalytic Fund to Drive Nigeria’s Gender-inclusive Energy Transition
Mary Nnah
Global leaders at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) have sounded the alarm, calling for a $20 million catalytic fund to drive gender-inclusive energy transition in Nigeria.
A press release made available to THISDAY revealed that Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires to the United Nations, Syndoph Endoni, noted, while speaking at the high-level event in New York recently, that equitable access to energy is a central pillar of global development and economic inclusion.
“Energy is far more than a commodity. It is an enabler of dignity, opportunity, and human progress”, he stated.
Endoni stressed that without deliberate efforts to integrate women into energy access, financing systems, and decision-making structures, Nigeria’s energy transition will remain incomplete and inequitable.
Dr. Omopeju Afanu, Chair of the CSW70 Planning Committee, highlighted that persistent energy gaps suppress market growth, particularly for women-led enterprises.
“Access to energy is access to economic participation,” she stated, noting that energy determines whether businesses can operate efficiently, supply chains function reliably, and communities integrate into formal economies.
The proposed $20 million fund aims to unlock larger pools of capital, de-risk innovation, and attract private finance.
“We are putting forward a bold ambition to mobilize 20 million dollars toward this work,” Dr. Afanu said. “This is capital that can move viable models from pilot stages into scalable, bankable systems and accelerate market development across the Global South.”
She emphasised the fund is designed to be catalytic, attracting institutional investment, private finance, and enabling blended financing structures.
Adebusuyi Olutayo Olumadewa, Founder of the DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative, emphasized integrating human capital development with renewable energy solutions to create opportunities for women and girls in the energy ecosystem.
The Girls in Energy Project aims to translate strategy into execution, creating a pipeline for women and girls to move into employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles within the energy sector.
“We have five years until 2030,” Dr. Afanu said. “In investment terms, that is a compressed window, but it is sufficient for well-structured capital deployment, strong partnerships, and disciplined execution.”
With the right coordination between public and private actors, this timeframe is enough to demonstrate scalable models, unlock follow-on capital, and deliver measurable economic returns alongside social impact.
