By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye
At a vibrant event in Abuja recently, over 100 Nigerian women gathered to celebrate a new dawn-one powered by clean, affordable solar energy. The Renewable Energy Activation for Women initiative, launched by CREDICORP in partnership with A-Solar, Optimus Bank, and the Ministry of Women Affairs, promises to transform the lives of over 2,500 women across Nigeria by providing access to solar home systems and credit-backed clean energy solutions.
This is more than just an energy project. It is a movement to end energy poverty, improve health, boost economic opportunities, and empower women as leaders and entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s clean energy future.
Ayesa Anthonia Musa, a civil servant and one of the beneficiaries, shared her heartfelt joy. For her, the solar home system means more than just light, it means her children’s education can continue uninterrupted, and her family’s quality of life will improve dramatically.
She said: “I am very, very happy. Today is my happiest day. I never knew I would be part of this. Thank you to the minister of women affairs for organising this. This solar energy system will change my household because we will no longer be in the dark when AEDC (Abuja Electricity Distribution Company) withholds power. My children will now have reason to study their books and do their assignments at night.”
Selessia Adeyinka, a retiree and small business owner from the FCT, said solar energy is not just about convenience but about sustaining her livelihood and reducing the financial strain of erratic power supply.
She explained the practical impact: “This solar panel will serve as an alternative power source for my home. It will reduce the cost of electricity consumption and the number of times I purchase electricity vouchers. I spend about N15,000 to N25,000 monthly on electricity bills. I sell ice blocks and other things from my home, so this solar panel will help me keep my business running even when there’s no electricity.”
For many Nigerian women like Olufade Olatunde, access to reliable, affordable energy is a gateway to economic independence and improved living conditions. Olatunde, another beneficiary, underscored the financial relief the solar system offers: “This will help me because I don’t have an alternative power supply at home and it will reduce my electricity bill from the current N15,000 a month.”
Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, framed the initiative within a broader social justice context. She said: “Every year, over 80,000 Nigerian women die prematurely from toxic smoke emitted by firewood and traditional cooking stoves. These women are mothers, providers, nation-builders. Their deaths are avoidable and must end on our watch.”
She underlined the scale of the challenge, saying: “Over 85 million Nigerians, 43% of our population, still live without access to electricity. Most are women and children in rural communities, where darkness means absence of opportunity, dignity, safety, and hope. That must change.”
The minister described the initiative as a “women-powered, data-driven revolution,” aiming to deliver solar home systems, clean cooking technologies, and productive-use appliances to women across all 774 local government areas.
“We are building a national clean energy ecosystem that unites ministries, financial institutions, local manufacturers, global tech firms, women’s cooperatives, and development agencies. Nigerian women are not just recipients of aid; they are architects of transformation.
“This is our moment. It is women o’clock. We invite everyone to not just witness history but to help us make it.”
The minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu, echoed the importance of this initiative, saying: “Over 80 million Nigerians still lack reliable electricity, and women bear the brunt of this deficit. We fully align with this bold vision to empower three million Nigerian women with clean energy technologies by 2027. Our ministry is prioritising renewable energy investments and policy reforms to attract private sector participation in decentralized energy solutions.
“We are expanding access through decentralized renewable energy systems, solar home kits, clean cooking initiatives, and productive appliances for homes, small businesses, and farms.
“We commend the ministry of women affairs and CREDICORP for this strategic partnership. Together, we will ensure no Nigerian woman is left behind in the journey towards energy equity and economic empowerment.”
He highlighted the creation of a gender unit within the ministry to ensure women’s energy needs are prioritised in all projects.
Spark Concepts, a rural electrification pioneer, added: “The cost of kerosene or petrol for lighting and generators is almost four times what solar costs. The problem is not financial but technological access. Women can already afford cleaner energy; they just need it at their doorstep. We believe women driving this will ensure success because they control the homes.”
Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), revealed ongoing efforts: He said: “The Nigerian Electrification Project has impacted eight million Nigerians and 35,000 businesses, including 12,000 women-led enterprises. We have earmarked $750 million for mini-grid and solar home systems, and we are training women as solar technicians and entrepreneurs.”
Uloma Chukwueke, Chief Business Officer at Premium Trust Bank, expressed the bank’s commitment thus: “This project aligns with our mission of economic empowerment, sustainability, and inclusivity. We are proud to partner in empowering three million women by 2027.”
Uzoma Nwagba, CEO of Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CrediCorp), explained the financial model, said: “Empowering women is good business. Women repay loans reliably and have a multiplier effect on communities. We launched a N10 billion Crown Fund, earmarking N5 billion for this initiative to provide women with access to solar and renewable energy solutions.”
He stressed that the credit facility allows women to access solar home systems without upfront cash, repaying loans over 18 to 24 months, enabling immediate benefits.
“Energy poverty limits women’s access to critical services and economic opportunities. NASENI’s 3C model-Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialization-focuses on sustainable renewable energy solutions made in Nigeria”, said Olasupo, Director of Manufacturing Services at NASENI.
He announced the establishment of a renewable energy hub in Abuja dedicated to research and manufacturing solar technologies, and the production of clean cookstoves that reduce firewood use, targeting 250,000 units annually across 10 states.
Across Nigeria, Olasupo said, women are not only beneficiaries but leaders in the clean energy transition. Programmes like the Women’s Clean Cookstoves Training Programme have empowered over 1,800 women entrepreneurs to distribute more than 60,000 clean cookstoves, cutting indoor air pollution by up to 90% and creating new income streams.
These women-led initiatives are transforming health, environment, and economies at the grassroots, proving that clean energy solutions rooted in local knowledge and women’s leadership are the future.
The Renewable Energy Activation for Women initiative is a beacon of hope and empowerment. It addresses the urgent need to end energy poverty, improve public health, and boost economic opportunities for Nigerian women.
As minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim declared: “This is Women O’clock-the energy poverty revolution we’ve been waiting for. I invite everyone here not just to witness history but to make it.”
For beneficiaries like Ayesa, Selessia, and Olufade, this revolution means brighter homes, thriving businesses, and a future where energy no longer limits their potential. It is a movement lighting the way for millions of Nigerian women to power their dreams and communities.