By Ayomide Otitoju
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria and the World Bank, has trained over 100 Nigerian entrepreneurs in the off-grid photovoltaic solar energy sector. The initiative, conducted under the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), aims to build a robust regional market for standalone solar systems.
ROGEAP, funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and the Dutch government through the Directorate General of International Cooperation (DGIS), is designed to boost SME participation in West Africa’s renewable energy sector.
During a three-day business training held in Lagos, El Hadji Sylla, Senior Adviser at the ECOWAS Commission’s ROGEAP, announced that Nigerian SMEs have already received grants totaling $800,000 under the project. He said the training sessions in Lagos and Abuja were structured to improve the technical and financial capacity of SMEs, enabling them to deliver bankable, commercially viable solar projects.
Sylla added that ECOWAS is in talks with the Ecobank Group to facilitate technical and financial support for solar SMEs, including the provision of credit lines.
“Working with Ecobank Nigeria, we have aligned the SME portfolios with the bank’s financing standards to ensure that their projects are not just feasible, but also fundable,” he said.
Salamatu Baba Tunwzang, Team Lead for ROGEAP’s Entrepreneurship Support Facilities, noted that the program supports both business development and technical installation capacity, offering entrepreneurs access to funding, training, market intelligence, and networking opportunities.
Ecobank Nigeria Managing Director Bolaji Lawal, represented by Regional Head Otega Aghogho Odjegna, highlighted the critical role of SMEs in West Africa’s economy, noting they account for over 80% of employment. He said the initiative aligns with the bank’s ELLEVATE program and Single Market Trade Hub, both of which are designed to help SMEs scale through tailored financing and digital tools.
