IFC Launches ‘Lighting Africa Programme’ For Nigeria

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) in collaboration with the World Bank, have launched an affordable power programme that will help complement the ongoing drive to provide stable electricity in Nigeria.

Through its “Lighting Africa Programme” and Nigeria’s private sector, Nigerians in the rural areas are expected to be reached with the off-grid renewable energy scheme.

The project will help improve and increase access to clean, affordable and safer lighting to over 30 percent of Nigeria’s population who live in the rural areas –and have no access to grid electricity and earn low incomes.

The Program Manager, Lighting Africa program, Itotia Njagi, said, “Lighting Africa is helping to build a market to bring off-grid lighting and energy services across Africa by establishing quality standards, investing in consumer education, creating a favorable investment climate, and supporting innovative business models. As we foster these partnerships among all parties in the industry, various opportunities would be explored and our goal of inclusive electrification would be achieved in Nigeria.”

A statement on the IFC website furthers says “the expansion of the Lighting Africa program to Nigeria supports the World Bank Group’s Energy Business Plan. Under the Energy Business Plan, each World Bank Group institution will leverage its competencies and products to provide solutions to projects that encourage their viability and contribute to the sustainability of Nigeria’s power sector to underpin the government’s ambitious privatization and reform programme.

“Lighting Africa is a key component of the Global Lighting and Energy Access Partnership (Global LEAP), an initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial”, the statement said.

The IFC Country Manager for Nigeria, Eme Essien Lore, explains that “part of the World Bank Group’s targeted interventions in the power sector includes off-grid solutions that make access to power more inclusive. These solutions, mostly solar powered, will reduce the hazards of using fuel based energy resources, improve the climate and accelerate development in Nigeria”.