All On reports major progress on Akeddei Solar Hybrid Minigrid Project

In Akeddei Community, Bayelsa State, the atmosphere has shifted noticeably over the past several months. Since All On awarded a $532,828 grant to Darway Coast Ltd for the development of a 195kWp solar hybrid minigrid, steady progress on the project has become a source of growing optimism among residents. The equipment installations, the training of local workers, and the visible advancement of the project site have all signalled that reliable electricity, something the community has long hoped for, is finally within reach.

For many in Akeddei, their expectations are shaped by what unfolded not too far away in Oweikorogha. When All On completed the first phase of its Niger Delta Electrification Project there, the 80kWp hybrid minigrid surpassed its target of 430 connections by lighting up 451 homes and businesses. The arrival of steady power changed daily life almost immediately: businesses extended operating hours, households reduced generator costs, and community services such as schools and local clinics became more reliable. It is this transformation that Akeddei hopes to replicate.

As the second phase of the initiative, the Akeddei project is set to deliver even greater scale with an estimated 1,058 connections, that focusses strongly on productive-use customers such as small businesses, artisans, and service providers. The community has followed the project closely, not only because of what it promises but because many
residents are already directly involved. Local youth have been employed in construction and site preparation, and Darway Coast Ltd has begun training community-based operators who will take on long-term technical and administrative roles once the minigrid is operational.

But the hope goes far deeper than jobs. Residents are looking ahead to what reliable electricity will mean for their businesses, their children’s education, and their overall quality of life. Fishermen are thinking about cold storage; shop owners are planning to power freezers and lighting; students are imagining evening study hours without noise and fumes from generators. Health workers are eager for stable power to store vaccines and run essential equipment.

As All On turns 10 this year, Toun Odetola, Communications Lead at All On, has emphasized that “the aim of this project, like All On’s many other grants and investments, is about much more than installing infrastructure, but about creating meaningful energy connections that enable socio-economic growth, reduce dependence on more expensive energy alternatives, and strengthen livelihoods in underserved communities across the Niger Delta.”

For Darway Coast Ltd, the work resonates deeply. Speaking on the progress, the company’s CEO Henry Ureh says, “As a company, we are committed to delivering affordable, reliable electricity that drives economic growth while safeguarding the interests of our customers and partners. We are confident that the beneficiaries in Akeddei will experience meaningful and measurable improvements in their quality of life, unlocking broader economic opportunities for the community.”
As Akeddei approaches the final stages of installation with commissioning expected in Q2 2026, the community’s anticipation is grounded in real, visible progress. They have seen firsthand what happened in Oweikorogha. They have watched neighbours in the region step into new opportunities because of reliable, affordable power. And now, they are preparing for similar change.

The story of the Akeddei minigrid is not one of wishful thinking. It is a story of tangible advancement, shared effort, and the belief, supported by proven results, that life can indeed change when clean, reliable energy arrives. And for Akeddei, that moment is just ahead.

All On Partnerships for Energy Access (All On), an independent impact investing company, was seeded by Shell to accelerate the closing of the energy access gap in Nigeria. It provides debt and equity funding, as well as non-financial support, to Nigerian energy companies that align with its mission.