Stakeholders To Proffer Solutions To Barriers In Nigeria’s Sustainable Energy Transition

The Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) is convening top stakeholders across Nigeria’s energy ecosystem for a high-impact workshop aimed at dismantling the barriers to a sustainable energy transition.

Themed “Overcoming Barriers to a Sustainable Energy Transition,” the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Stakeholders’ Workshop will take place on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Lagos. The event is poised to be a catalyst for change, bringing together policymakers, energy experts, investors, development partners, and clean energy advocates to chart a practical course for transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape.

Although the Federal Government laid the groundwork through policies such as the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2015, implementation hurdles remain. Nigeria’s Vision 30:30:30 aims to produce 30,000MW of electricity by 2030, with 30 percent sourced from renewables. CADEF believes distributed energy resources hold the key to achieving this goal, but only if strategic, cross-sector collaboration removes the roadblocks.

The executive director of CADEF, Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, while speaking to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday, said the workshop was not just about dialogue, it’s about driving action.

“Distributed energy resources hold the key to unlocking sustainable and inclusive energy access, especially for underserved communities. Through this engagement, we aim to foster cross-sector collaboration and equip stakeholders with the tools and insights needed to scale solutions that work,” Ndukwe-Okafor, asserted.

The DER technologies like solar mini-grids, battery storage, and hybrid systems are central to Nigeria’s decentralized energy potential. The workshop will explore access to solar financing, investment incentives, DER integration, and policy innovation, all with a focus on real-world solutions.

CADEF’s director of programmes, Lovelyn Okafor, emphasized the significance of the workshop, adding that, “The time is ripe to leverage distributed energy innovations to build a resilient and inclusive energy future. We are bringing together voices that matter, from grassroots change-makers to top-tier investors and government officials to spark lasting transformation.”

The CADEF has been at the fore, driving change in the renewable energy sector through some key innovative interventions such as the unveiling of the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) one-stop shop in 2024, a digital platform created to revolutionize how stakeholders and businesses across the DER ecosystem perceive, access and manage energy solutions. CADEF also announced the launch of the greenlabs programme in collaboration with Jacob’s Ladder Africa, an initiative designed to inspire, equip, and empower young Nigerians to create sustainable, climate-smart solutions that address critical environmental and socio-economic challenges.

Sessions during the workshop will include a live demonstration of the newly launched DER platform (Renew Energy Naija), panel discussions on financing and incentives, public-private partnerships and international collaborations. CADEF believes that by strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration, Nigeria can unlock the full potential of decentralized renewable energy, boost energy access, and empower millions of underserved households and businesses.