The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has taken another step toward promoting sustainable energy solutions in the region.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Services, Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, on behalf of the President of the Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has launched a capacity-building workshop for over 50 small and medium-sized enterprises in the off-grid solar photovoltaic sector. The workshop, which began on Monday, March 10, in Abuja, is part of the implementation of the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project, ROGEAP, and will run until March 12.
The training aims to equip participants with a strong understanding of ROGEAP’s subsidy mechanism, financing opportunities, and off-grid solar technology. It also covers quality assurance frameworks, environmental considerations, and strategies for market expansion.
A representative from Ecobank Nigeria reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting the sector and strengthening collaboration with ECOWAS.
ROGEAP, a project jointly funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund, and the Netherlands Directorate General for International Cooperation, is being implemented by the ECOWAS Commission’s Department of Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitization. It covers 19 countries, including ECOWAS member states, and seeks to develop a regional market for autonomous solar systems.
With the push for renewable energy gaining momentum across Africa, the question remains: will these capacity-building efforts translate into tangible progress for energy access in the region? Only time will tell.
