Yemisi Izuora
In a deliberate move to boost renewable energy development in Nigeria, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mente Energy Limited.
The agreement will enable both parties launch the Renewable Energy Localisation and Industrialisation Programme (RELIP).
The agreement, signed in Abuja, was jointly endorsed by Abba Aliyu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the REA, and Tolu Osekita, Founder and Managing Partner of Mente Energy.
The initiative is designed to transform Nigeria’s renewable energy space into a structured and investment-ready industrial ecosystem capable of driving job creation, local manufacturing, and long-term economic growth.
Over the past decade, Nigeria has recorded significant growth in renewable energy adoption, with increased use of solar solutions, mini-grids, and solar home systems across urban and rural communities.
Commercial and industrial players have also increasingly adopted distributed renewable energy to power operations.
Under the RELIP framework, a 20-year national demand model for renewable energy components will be developed to provide a clear outlook on market potential and guide investments in the sector.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Aliyu said the programme would help retain more economic value within the country.
“By organising national demand and strengthening the institutional architecture for domestic manufacturing, we are creating the conditions for investment, jobs, and industrial growth to take root here in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the agency is open to partnerships with both local and international investors committed to building Nigeria’s clean energy industrial base.
Osekita described the initiative as a major opportunity to unlock industrial growth within the sector.
“What RELIP does is bring structure to those significant opportunities, creating the clarity and confidence needed for capital, local and global, to invest at scale,” he said.