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Tag: Damilola Ogunbiyi

  • Forbes names Damilola Ogunbiyi among 2025 Sustainability Global Leaders

    Forbes names Damilola Ogunbiyi among 2025 Sustainability Global Leaders

    Sustainable energy and development trailblazer receives yet another prestigious award when on Friday September 19th, 2025, Forbes Magazine named the Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi in its 2025 Forbes Sustainability Leaders list recognizing 50 global leaders who are working to combat the climate crisis.

    Now in its second year, the Forbes Sustainability Leaders list honours 50 people setting the pace for a just, sustainable economy and defining what climate leadership looks like today. Damilola was recognized for her efforts to advance an equitable energy transition that benefits underprivileged communities in the Global South. Her leadership in championing the UN-led Energy Compacts as well as the World Bank and African Development Bank’s Mission 300, the ambitious public-private-philanthropic partnership to provide electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, was also recognized.

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    Reacting to this latest recognition, Damilola said, “This recognition is a reflection not only of my work, but also of the incredible partners, colleagues, and communities who share the vision of building a more sustainable future, and accelerating a just and equitable energy transition.”

    This Forbes Sustainability Leaders recognition is one among many other awards that Damilola has received in the last three years – a reflection of the transformative work she has done as the UN Special Representative to the Secretary-General, and the CEO of Sustainable Energy for All. In September 2024, she was recognized in the 2024 TIME100 Climate list as one of the 20 titans in climate. In the same month, she received the First-Class Order of Zayed II from the UAE President in recognition of her contribution to the success of the climate conference, COP28; and the Global Female Leadership Impact (GFLI) Award. In March 2024, she was recognized as a trailblazer in her field by the Reuters’ Trailblazing Women in Climate and the Reuters’ Trailblazing Women in Energy. In 2023, she received the Energy Institute President’s Award, in recognition of her continued role in solving critical global issues.

    Damilola has been at the helm of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and as the UN Special Representative to the Secretary-General since January 2020. Under her leadership, major strides to enable just, equitable and sustainable energy transitions that ensure better quality of life and opportunities for people living in developing regions have been achieved.

    During this period, SEforALL has supported over 100 countries globally, and secured commitments of more than $1.6 trillion in energy finance. SeforALL has a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, it works at the intersection of energy, climate and development, partnering with governments and organizations worldwide to end energy poverty, double energy efficiency, significantly expand renewable energy and combat climate change.

  • DAMILOLA OGUNBIYI: Girls should be equipped to break poverty trap

    Damilola Ogunbiyi is the first female Managing Director of the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency. The Amazon is responsible for implementing the Nigerian Off-Grid Electrification Programme and the Nigerian Electrification Project. She is also responsible for the Energising Education Programme to Nigeria students through off-grid captive power plants to 37 federal universities. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she recalls how her fascination for science and technology started, her core objectives, innovations at the Lagos State Electricity Board, amongst other issues. 

    YOU are a member of the Chartered Institute of Building. What inspired you to go into the sector?
    I have always been fascinated about science, technology, data and infrastructure development. From Age 14, I had internships every summer holiday at architectural and engineering firms until I turned 21 and started my career. It is no surprise that I chose to study courses centred on construction, project management and engineering, after which I started my career constructing airports in the United Kingdom.

    Let’s talk about your experience as the first female Managing Director of the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency?

    It has been a worthwhile experience so far. It has afforded me opportunities to develop and implement programmes and initiatives that impact millions of people and the economy through better education, healthcare, job opportunities, improved standards of living for underserved and unserved communities.

    While my appointment as the first female managing director is a milestone for REA, the agency has been able to achieve many more milestones; notably impacting almost half a million Nigerians through the REA’s on-grid and off-grid initiatives, developing the sector’s first energy database which seeks to provide vital energy, community, grid data in the Nigerian energy industry by creating a central data hub for energy statistics and community data. This is at the heart of REA’s data-driven decision making.

    In addition, one of my core objectives as MD is to ensure REA’s projects are sustainable and have been institutionalised across the agency.

    What are some of the projects that you have handled? What influenced the idea of your project, Energising Education Programme?

    Some of the projects under my portfolio include: The Capital Projects, Nigerian Electrification Project (NEP) comprising the Energising Education Programme (EEP), Mini-grid and Solar Home Systems components and the Rural Electrification Fund.

    Access to constant power supply in educational institutions and healthcare facilities in Nigeria has been identified as a major challenge and barrier to effective learning and access to quality healthcare. Considering this, the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing through the REA resolved to embark on viable projects that will ensure the availability of clean, reliable, sustainable and affordable power to Nigeria’s federal universities and university teaching hospitals.

    Tell us about the implementation of the Nigeria Off-Grid Electrification Programme. What are some of the challenges and achievements?

    The Nigeria Off-Grid Electrification Strategy is a shift from centralised power generation and distribution to a demand-driven, market-oriented, decentralised approach. It is private sector focused with emphasis on economic viability.

    So far, under the Energising Economies Initiative (EEI), over 10,000 shops are currently receiving clean, reliable and affordable power supply across nine markets, with a target of 80,000 shops under Phase 0 and Phase 1. The REA has identified another 97 markets to be connected under Phase 2 of the EEI.

    On the other hand, the Energising Education Programme (EEP) is expected to provide sustainable electricity access to 37 federal universities and seven university teaching hospitals across Nigeria. Phase 1 of the EEP, which is fully funded by the federal government, will power nine federal universities and one university teaching hospital across the six geo-political zones. The World Bank and Africa Development Bank are to fund Phases 2 and 3 of the EEP respectively.

    Let’s talk about your experience working as General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity board. What were the projects executed during your tenure?

    Working as the General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my career. I was responsible for public lighting, independent power projects, and energy development in Lagos State. Under my leadership, five independent power projects were completed to deliver over 55MW of power to Lagos State hospitals, schools, streetlights, the government secretariat and other government buildings.

    In renewable energy, I completed 5MW decentralised solar project for 213 schools and 11 primary healthcare centres in Lagos State and established the Lagos Energy Academy which provided world class hands-on technical engineering training on a wide range of topics and subjects important to the energy/power sector value chain.

    In energy development, I implemented the Lagos State Energy Audit Programme – a state-wide energy audit strategy to capture power consumption data, which provided training and employed over 100 field engineers.

    Secondly, there was the Conserve Energy, Save Money (CESM) campaign. It is an on-going project to discourage people energy waste in Lagos and encourage energy efficiency in homes and businesses. The third is the Lagos Youth Energy Career Programme, a programme aimed at developing well-trained energy/power developmentoperatives for employment in the Nigerian energy/power development market. Selected engineering graduates are trained on SMART grid, protection of electrical networks, power distribution and economics, power projects and renewable energy. Some of these students are now working for General Electric (GE) and International Finance Corporation (IFC).

    The fourth is the Lagos Power Kids. This is a programme for children in Lagos State government secondary schools, designed as an extra-curricular club that holds weekly in schools and focuses on harnessing children’s creativity and imagination through teaching them about renewable energy and practical experiments on how power is generated.

    What were some of the memorable moments working with Lagos State?

    The first power project I managed when I worked for Lagos State Government was the Island Power Project (IPP), which is a 10 MW gas-fired Independent Power Plant located in Lagos Island. The IPP is responsible for providing 24 hours of electricity through a dedicated network to numerous public buildings including hospitals like Island Maternity, which is a paediatric hospital, located on Lagos Island.

    Within six months of powering the Island Maternity Hospital, the Medical Director reported that infant mortality had reduced by 23% as a direct impact of having constant power supply. The power plant has been running for over seven years now and the impact is still felt. This is one of the most rewarding and memorable moments.

    Tell us about some of the lessons learnt working with DFID in the area of public private partnership

    Through the last 10 years, I have worked with the Department for International Development (DFID) in various capacities. DFID co-funded the Lagos solar project with Lagos State government, which I managed as General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board.

    DFID has also been supportive in my current role at REA, by providing much-needed technical assistance to the agency.

    How would you assess the renewable energy sector? Are we maximising the potential here?
    The federal government has formulated policies to drive investments in the renewable energy sector. So far, the sector has gained significant attention and growth especially with the implementation of these policies, attracting funding and technical support available from private sector participation.

    You have helped to train over a hundred girls with regards to STEM education, what are the potential for the girl-child. What are some of the other things that you have done in this area?

    Empowering the girl-child is critical for families (and by extension, Nigeria) to thrive. In Nigeria where the government is fighting to reduce poverty level, it is important that girls are equipped with the necessary education and skills to break the poverty trap.

    The Buhari administration is committed to female empowerment and under the Energising Education Programme (EEP), we are currently training 180 female STEM students to acquire skills to design power systems to meet desired economic, environmental, social, ethical, and sustainability needs; gain knowledge of contemporary issues and the ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams; apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering techniques.

    Let’s talk about the university electrification project that would be launched across the nation next month

    The Energising Education Programme (EEP) overall objective is to provide reliable, affordable and sustainable power to 37 federal universities and seven teaching hospitals through solar hybrid and gas-fired power plant solutions and the rehabilitation of existing distribution infrastructure.

    The EEP aims to install streetlights for improved security within the university campuses and construct renewable energy technology training centres for existing students across beneficiary universities.

    Phase 1 of the EEP, which is fully, funded by the federal government will power nine federal universities and one university teaching hospital across the six geo-political zones. The World Bank and Africa Development Bank are to fund Phases 2 and 3 of the EEP respectively.

    The aim is to inaugurate Bayero University Kano, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, Delta and Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi before the end of Q3 2019.

  • REA signs pacts for N1.9b grants for mini-grid, solar projects

    The Rural Electrification Fund (REF), which is implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency ( REA ) on Thursday signed agreements for disbursement of N1.9billion grant for the execution of mini-grid and solar home system.

    The project is aimed at accelerating economic and human capacity development in rural communities by the rapid deployment of adequate electricity supply to the development of all the sectors of the economy, through private sector developers.

    Signing the agreement in Abuja, the Managing Director of the Agency, Damilola Ogunbiyi, recalled previous administrations had tried to secure the grant for several years in vain but it was actualized in 20 months under the present administration.

    Asked how much grant the fund was given to each beneficiary, she explained that it depends on each project as the fund viewed them separately before providing 25% to 75% of the total project sum.

    A fact sheet on the project, however, noted that the grant is going to impact on 19,130 of total solar home system.

    The total solar home system aspect of the grant, which costs N995, 667, 434 is being implemented by 14 indigenous suppliers.

    Meanwhile, it is expected to deploy 12 mini-grid for N956,916,000 by 12 indigenous mini-grid developers.

    The project deployment time is within the one year of 2019.

    On benefits of the grant, the REA noted that it will create over 400 jobs, empower over 43,000 household and businesses that will receive safe and reliable electricity in the rural areas.

    According to the agency, the grant is expected to reduce carbon emissions-Greenhouse carbon emission is to be reduced annually by over 5,000 metric tonnes.

    Executive Director of the REF, Dr. Sanusi Ohiare recalled the REF was meant to be activated since 2006 but for some reasons previous managements were unable to actualize it until the coming of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He noted the directive under the management of Ogunbiyi, “was for us to operationalise the fund.

    “We had some money about N2billion in the fund that had been there since 2006 because there was no framework in place to deploy the fund.”

    He noted in 2017, the management put the operational guideline in place and received the approval for implementation.

    One of the beneficiaries, Chief Executive Officer, Nayo Technology Ltd, Okenwa Anayo, who got a grant of N96.3million which 50% of the project cost, said: “This will give us the needed soft landing in financing our projects.

    “It gives us opportunity to go further to rural areas to invest rural mini-grid.

    “This is the best way to fast-track energy for rural people in Nigeria using distributed power.”

  • Osinbajo flags off market power intervention in Akure

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the pilot project of Special Intervention in Energising Markets as Productive Clusters at Isinkan Market, Akure, Ondo state capital.

    The federal project being powered by the National Rural Electrification Agency and Ondo State Government’s Office of Public Utilities was aimed at ensuring power supply in all markets across the state.

    The VP explained at the flag off at Isinkan market that the project is being put in places by the Federal Government to ensure power supply in all public markets with a view to boosting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME-s) in the country.

    According to him, “We are focusing on major markets across the country to put an end to power problem. We are working at Ariria Market in Aba, likewise Sabongeri market in Kano and we focusing on markets in Lagos as well.

    “We can see how excited the market women are judging by their testimonies.

    “This technology is new and it is remotely monitored from the headquarters of the service providers. If anyone attempts to tamper with the meter it would be detected from the monitoring centre immediately and necessary action would be taken.”

    Osinbajo who was accompanied by Governor Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu, however, promised the market women that the project would be extended to all other markets.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Public Utilities, Engr. Tunji Light Ariyomo explained that Governor Akeredolu is working in conjunction with the Federal Government to ensure power problem is resolved in all public markets in the state.

    “The governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is concerned about the plights of the market women in terms of poor power supply. He’s working with the Federal Government through its agency to power all our markets in Ondo State.

    “This would enable the people to run their businesses smoothly and make more profits which would invariably allow them to create more jobs and shore up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state government,” Ariyomo said.

    A team, comprising market women, state government representatives and a representative of the federal agency, was inaugurated by the Director General,  National Rural Electrification Agency,  Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi and Engr. Ariyomo to ensure the safety of the gadgets.

    The team tagged Cluster Management Unit has five members.

    The solar power used as pilot project is 3kw capacity meant to serve 14 lock-up shops in Block I of Isinkan Market, Akure. A total of 8,750 matket shops in Akure across Oja Oba, NEPA and Isolo markets have been profiled as beneficiaries of the intervention consequent upon the success of the pilot.

    According to the Iyaloja of Isinkan, Chief (Mrs.) Bolarinwa Temidayo, the project is a solution to the main problem they have been facing for the past four years.

    She disclosed that they were suffering from outright blackout in all public markets in the state capital and across the major markets in towns and villages of the state which had undermined their rate of turnover.

    Bolarinwa, who revealed that there were 8,700 lock-up shops in major markets in the state capital, called on the Vice President to ensure the agency responsible for the installation of the solar power extend the project to other markets in Akure and across the state.

     

  • Agency to use renewable energy, rural electrification

    The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) says it will focus on renewable energy and off-the-grid solutions for rural electrification of Nigeria.

    The new Managing Director of REA, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    “One of the first things we are going to do next week is to have the project team led by the ED (Executive Director) Technical identify the status of all the projects and come up with a proper master plan on how we can tackle them.

    “While also focusing on the new projects that the minister mentioned; the university project is a critical project for us.

    “Then the Hydro project he mentioned; and the small-scale solar project. That is not necessarily rural; it is also in urban centres.

    “So we really see ourselves as an access agency to get power to people who do not have it regardless of where they are; either in urban or the rural areas.

    “We are going to do it using a completely different variety of renewable energy technology and some off-the-grid solutions as well.’’

    Ogunbiyi said that the new management of REA was fully committed to achieving the mandate of the agency by providing power to the most vulnerable in the society.

     

  • Lagos students for training on energy

    The Lagos Power Kids Programme (LAPK), an energy initiative of the Lagos State Government implemented by the Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB) in collaboration with the EKO Project and Society of Petroleum Engineers, will begin on January 29.

    The initiative is part of the Lagos State Government’s Energy Development Plan to improve energy efficiency and conservation practice amongst its citizens.

    A press statement from the office of the General Manager, LSEB Mrs.Damilola Ogunbiyi, said the programme will have about 1,000 students participating.

    They will be taught energy & electricity, energy conservation & efficiency, dangers of electricity & simple circuit experiment, sources of energy, solar energy as well as oil & gas.

    The participants will also visit LSEB office, solar farm as well as the recently commissioned Alausa Independent Power Plant (IPP) responsible for sustainable power supply to the Lagos State Government Secretariat Alausa.