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Nigeria is West Africa’s unrivalled economic powerhouse. With a population of over 190 million people and a gross domestic product of over US$380bn,

The effects of the oil crisis highlighted Nigeria’s exposure and vulnerability of the broader economy to external shocks. Feeling the pinch from the oil price shock, Nigeria’s government, which collects about three-quarters of its revenues from oil, acknowledged the need to reduce the economy’s oil dependency, set up a number of initiatives aimed at diversifying the economy.

The Government implemented Policies/intervention aiming at inclusive economic growth and socio-economic development for the people of the Republic of Nigeria.

Industrialisation, manufacturing/producing goods for local consumption and export and boosting-fostering agriculture to meet local and export demands. Reinvigorating its power sector generation and distribution to meet Nigeria’s the medium and long term power needs, owing to an increase in industrialization- manufacturing and providing the enabling and best environment for businesses both foreign and local to participate and profit from Nigeria’s business opportunities as it diversifies from crude oil exports as its main source of revenue.

Several measures and interventions have been taken simultaneously all strategically designed to reinvigorate, stimulate, and sustain growth in every other sector of the economy save oil and gas.  In this regard, intervention initiatives encompass real sector programmes, particularly, agriculture, small and medium enterprises, infrastructure, and youth empowerment. Expanding and intensifying Nigeria’s industrial and agricultural manufacturing / production includes the creation of special industrial free trade/ economic zones in Nigeria. In this vision and mission Nigeria is implementing over 3 trillion naira ($8.3 billion) of work and projects toward eliminating its infrastructure deficit, leading to Nigeria’s largest capital spending with the construction of power stations, road, and rail projects, which is catalytic in connecting people, goods, and opportunities all in economic sectors.

These initiatives have impacted positively employment, food security, and power generation, transmission, and distribution.

There is now ample evidence of reductions in the country’s annual imports bill and increased non-oil exports. The agricultural interventions programme has supported more than 1.5 million farmers and across all the 36 States of Nigeria, diversification of commodities etc. and led to the creation of over 2.5 million jobs across the agricultural value chain.

From this diversification story, Nigeria is emerging as a financial services, technology, and electronic payments powerhouse, establishing itself as one of the hottest FinTech hubs.

Nigeria is also home to the most lucrative telecoms market in Africa, which is growing at twice the African average. The explosion of industries such as the mobile telecommunications market and the unparalleled success of foreign companies continues to demonstrate that in Nigeria potential can be turned into reality.

Goldman Sachs also identified Nigeria as one of its 11 countries, with a high potential of becoming, the world’s largest economies in the 21st century. For all the mentioned reasons and many more, Nigeria is certainly an attractive international investment destination.

Mrs Ayodeji Esther Ayegbajeje

Private Sector Development Specialist for the international Project Development Programme set up by the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and facilitated by GIZ

Ayodeji Esther Ayegbajeje is an engineer with over six years of experience working on projects in the renewables and environment industry. She has demonstrated success with working with several commercials and industrial clients in West Africa to achieve their energy sustainability goals. She has a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Power) from the University of […]

Ayodeji Esther Ayegbajeje is an engineer with over six years of experience working on projects in the renewables and environment industry. She has demonstrated success with working with several commercials and industrial clients in West Africa to achieve their energy sustainability goals. She has a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Power) from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and is certified as an expert in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance by the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany.
She currently works as a Private Sector Development Specialist for the international Project Development Programme set up by the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and facilitated by GIZ. As a country representative for Nigeria, she identifies, analyses and develops bankable projects that promote the German Solutions Export Initiative in Nigeria and currently manages a portfolio of over 10MW bankable projects in Nigeria.

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• Day 1 – 29 Sep 2021
• Day 2 – 30 Sep 2021
• Day 3 – 01 Oct 2021

Mr Bah F. M. Saho

Executive Director of The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Until his appointment with ECREEE in 2010, Mr. Saho served as the Director of Energy in the Gambia from December 2000. In the Gambia, he was responsible for the overall national energy policy planning, formulation and implementation of programmes and projects, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. Some of Mr. Saho’s accomplishments include development of […]

Until his appointment with ECREEE in 2010, Mr. Saho served as the Director of Energy in the Gambia from December 2000. In the Gambia, he was responsible for the overall national energy policy planning, formulation and implementation of programmes and projects, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. Some of Mr. Saho’s accomplishments include development of a National Energy Policy (NEP 2005) document, formulation and enactment of Electricity Act, drafting of petroleum legislation, establishment of a framework condition for funding for renewable energy legislation and elaboration of a Household Energy Strategy document.

In ECREEE, Mr. Saho served as a Program Officer for Renewable Energy from May 2010 to June 2016, when he was appointed Principal Program Officer – Renewable Energy. He oversees the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Program and specifically responsible for the Bioenergy Program. Tremendous improvements have been achieved in the development of this sector during his tenure as PPO – RE including the adoption of ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Bioenergy Policies to advance the uptake of sustainable energy technologies and services for improving energy access. He is the Lead Investigator (or Coordinator) of the BiocharPlus Project at ECREEE, and at the forefront of the establishment of the Africa Biochar Partnership. He currently serves as the interim Coordinator of the Africa Biochar Partnership.

From May 1, 2020 Mr. Saho has been appointed as the Acting Executive Director of ECREEE. He holds a master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Renewable Energy and the Environment.

Mr Hugo Le Picard

Researcher, Centre for Energy at the French Institute of International Relations

Researcher, Centre for Energy at the French Institute of International Relations

Researcher, Centre for Energy at the French Institute of International Relations

Mr Henry Paul Batchi Baldeh

PESD Director, African Development Bank-AFBD

Mr. Batchi Baldeh is an investment banker, infrastructure developer and utility management specialist, with over 34 years of professional experience across the power value chain and financing capital structure. Mr. Baldeh is currently the Director of Power Systems Development at the African Development Bank (AfDB), which he joined in May, 2017. He was responsible for […]

Mr. Batchi Baldeh is an investment banker, infrastructure developer and utility management specialist, with over 34 years of professional experience across the power value chain and financing capital structure. Mr. Baldeh is currently the Director of Power Systems Development at the African Development Bank (AfDB), which he joined in May, 2017. He was responsible for the management of the AfDB’s private sector energy loan portfolio from February 2018 to March 2020. Prior to joining AfDB, Mr. Baldeh was the Director – Power Business, Investments Division, at the Africa Finance Corporation. He has also been a consultant to the World Bank, European Union / BizClim and Government of Lesotho; and was the pioneer Managing Director of Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company, from 1995 – 1999. He is a Non-executive Director of the AFC and Development Bank of Nigeria (representing AfDB). He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cabeolica S.A. and Cenpower Operations and Services Limited; and an Alternate Director and Technical Committee member of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (representing AFC).

Mr. Baldeh holds an MBA from Boston University (USA) and BSc – Honours in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Newcastle-upon-Tyne University (UK). He is a member of the Institute of Engineering & Technology (UK) and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Southern Africa.

In West Africa, renewable energy entrepreneurs are at the forefront of efforts to extend access to modern energy services as they are often best placed to offer tailored-made local solutions. Such entrepreneurs, however, face serious challenges including business management and operations, as well as how to bring their innovative ideas to fruition.

To overcome some of these challenges and strengthen the position of ECOWAS-based renewable energy businesses, the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of the Republic of Senegal and the German Development Agency (GIZ) are honouring WAPECC by sponsoring the Impact Starter Platform competition for regional SMEs.

ECREEE and GIZ, (German International Development Agency) in collaboration with the ministry of Petroleum and Energy of the Republic of Senegal will be launching the:

WAPECC Impact Starter Platform

a competition for SME’s to submit the best energy solution for the benefit of local communities, judged by our panel of experts, open soon

The top three entries to this competition will win mentorship from our sponsors to:

• Refine renewable energy project proposals to be bankable
• Train them through enterprise development and mentorship programs

Konect Group together with its advisory partners will work with the SMEs in the run up to the event.

All submitted applications will be submitted to a jury made up of experts from the energy industry and the top three most innovative will be announced at WAPECC.

The WAPECC Impact Starter Platform will give investors visibility of local, quality SMEs ready to take the lead in the off-grid development initiative.

The winning entries will have the opportunity to use this promotion platform, investment pipeline and opportunity for knowledge transfer.