All On, a Shell-funded off-grid energy impact investment company says it is funding scholarships for up to 120 professionals affiliated to the Niger Delta to give them skills to run solar installations at a training institution ran by Rubitec Solar, a Lagos-based solar energy firm.
The funding for the scholarships will benefit people from the ‘greater’ Niger Delta; South-South including Imo, Abia, and Ondo as well as people working in the off-grid energy sector in the Niger Delta region, the company said.
“The All On Niger Delta Off Grid Energy Scholarship Program supports All On’s mandate to build an enabling environment in which the off-grid energy sector can thrive, in this case through providing badly needed human capacity,” Wiebe Boer, CEO, All On, said in a release.
Boer also said the program will ensure that an adequate skilled pool of men and women affiliated to the Niger Delta are developed to support the scaling of the sector.
According to All On, the scholarship which funds up to 50% of the cost of distributed solar training programs provided by the Rubitec Academy is open to indigenes of the Niger Delta region and persons working within the region. The training will enable them to participate in the emerging off-grid/ clean energy sector while improving their chances for economic independence.
Speaking during the signing of the agreement, Bolade Soremekun, CEO of Rubitec Solar said; “We are proud to be part of the Nigerian energy revolution through renewable energy, and it is an honour to be selected by ALL ON as partners on this initiative. This scholarship will help bridge the identified gap of available skilled personnel due to increasing demand for renewable energy products and services.”
Established in 2004, Rubitec Solar says it wants to bridge the energy gap in Nigeria through the provision and deployment of renewable energy solutions to communities, businesses, and public institutions.
Rubitec commissioned her first mini-grid in Gbamugbamu community in Ogun State Nigeria in February 2018 and will be using this expertise to train successful candidates in solar PV installation, mini-grid design, installation and operation amongst others.
Interested applicants have been invited to visit Rubitec’s website for more information on the training and scholarship opportunity.
All On, an independent impact investing company, was seeded with funding from Shell, and works with partners to increase access to commercial energy products and services for under-served and un-served off-grid energy markets in Nigeria, with a special focus on the Niger Delta.
The company invests in off-grid energy solutions spanning solar, wind, hydro, biomass and gas technologies deployed by both foreign and local access-to-energy companies that complement available grid power across Nigeria and help bridge the significant energy gap. It recently signed an agreement with Bank of Industry to fund offgrid projects in the region.
