NOMAP calls for regulation, data-driven market, to foster off-grid acceleration

The Nigeria Off-Grid Market Acceleration Program (NOMAP) has called for a data-driven market, effective policy and regulatory frameworks, and direct interventions to prove concepts that can reduce off-grid energy market barriers and accelerate energy access in the country.

The donor-funded programme focused on accelerating off-grid energy access in Nigeria recently convened a high-level stakeholder event to discuss how to finance off-grid renewable energy solutions targeted at productive use for rural communities and marginalized groups.

In his welcome remarks, Adedotun Eyinade, the Program Director of NOMAP, said that the stakeholder convening was inspired by the need to build on the collective progress made in the sector and foster learning and collaboration.

“As a market accelerator, we pay a great deal of attention to engaging all our stakeholders as a strategy to deepen our understanding of issues and how that can help design human-centered solutions to challenges facing the sector.”

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NOMAP was established in 2018 through a partnership between the Shell Foundation, the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and USAID Power Africa under their Scaling Off Grid Energy Grand Challenge for Development (SOGE) partnership.

Ahmad Salihijo, managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency, represented by Barbara Izilein, his special adviser, said that the productive use of energy will ensure that energy access is available and utilized to its full potential.

“By harnessing energy to drive productive activities, we can create jobs, increase incomes, and improve the living standards of millions of Nigerians where these solutions are being deployed,” she said.

The stakeholder convening also featured panels on ‘Productive Use Beyond Mini-Grid Viability’, which explored the socio-economic impact of productive use of energy interventions and how it can deliver inclusive impact for women and marginalized groups, and “Financing Options for Productive Use”, which explored the various financing options and business model options for productive use initiatives in the country.

Through interventions, NOMAP has to identify over 15,000 communities viable for mini-grid and solar home systems (SHS) deployment across 30 states in Nigeria.