In a decisive push to expand access to renewable energy across West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria and the World Bank, has trained over 100 Nigerian entrepreneurs to thrive in the off-grid solar energy market.
The initiative, under the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), is designed to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the photovoltaic solar value chain. With funding from the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and the Netherlands’ Directorate General of International Cooperation (DGIS), ROGEAP aims to catalyze a unified regional market for standalone solar systems.
El Hadji Sylla, Senior Adviser at the ECOWAS Commission’s ROGEAP, revealed that Nigerian SMEs have already accessed grants amounting to $800,000. Speaking at a three-day entrepreneurship business training session held in Lagos, Sylla emphasized that the workshops—conducted in both Lagos and Abuja—were tailored to strengthen the technical proficiency and financial viability of participating solar energy businesses.
“These trainings are a cornerstone for building resilient, bankable enterprises that can deliver sustainable energy solutions to underserved communities,” Sylla said. “This year alone, we’ve aligned numerous SME portfolios with Ecobank’s financing criteria, ensuring project readiness for commercial funding.”
Sylla further disclosed that ECOWAS is in discussions with the Ecobank Group to establish direct credit lines and other technical support mechanisms aimed at accelerating SME-led solar initiatives. The strategic collaboration seeks to make renewable energy ventures more attractive to private investors and financial institutions.
Salamatu Baba Tunwzang, Team Lead at ROGEAP’s Entrepreneurship Support Facilities, highlighted the program’s holistic design. “We’re not just offering technical training—we’re building a complete support ecosystem. From financial assistance to installer capacity building and market insights, ROGEAP is bridging multiple gaps for SMEs,” she said.
Ecobank Nigeria’s Managing Director, Bolaji Lawal, represented by Regional Head Otega Aghogho Odjegna, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to SME development. Lawal described SMEs as the economic heartbeat of the subregion, contributing over 80 percent of employment across West Africa.
He noted that the ECOWAS, World Bank partnership complements Ecobank’s ELLEVATE program and Single Market Trade Hub—initiatives tailored to equip businesses with access to capital, digital tools, and market expansion strategies.
As Nigeria pushes to diversify its energy landscape and uplift its entrepreneurial base, the ROGEAP initiative stands out as a practical model for achieving inclusive growth and climate resilience through regional cooperation and private-sector engagement.
Edited By Folake Sokoya
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