Suleiman Babamanu's journey to Nigeria's largest solar project center started disappointingly.
After graduating from university, he worked as a geoscientist intern in a department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Industrial work (Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa) was originally a traditional and profitable path. But he could not find a job.
That was around 2010, when the growth of global clean energy made it look like a potential career. In Nigeria, the industry did not gain much appeal. He put the idea on hold until a conversation with a family member convinced him to reconsider. He said: "My cousin told me not to go where the money is, but where the money is." "I immediately changed my mind and applied for a master's degree in renewable energy and got a scholarship." This got him in. He went to Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, and then returned to various public and private positions in the renewable energy industry in his home country, including projects funded by the World Bank. Now, as the technical project leader of the Rural Electrification Bureau, he is one of the officials helping to implement Nigeria’s largest solar investment, which is part of the country’s Covid economic recovery plan. The Nai Nai Solar Project is also a step towards solving one of Nigeria’s biggest problems: the lack of reliable electricity.
According to the "Paris Climate Agreement", Nigeria pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2030. To achieve this goal, Nigeria’s goal is to source 30% of its energy from renewable energy sources. Looking ahead, 10% of the government's recovery of $5.6 billion in stimulating the pandemic will be used to install 5 million solar home systems. The goal is to provide electricity to 25 million people in rural communities that currently have no access to the grid.
With the help of Naia Solar, the government's goal is to solve the development problems caused by insufficient power supply and pollution caused by fuel generators (one of the most popular energy sources). Babamanu said: "Rural communities, businesses and people who use generators and even candles will have the opportunity to obtain a cleaner and more efficient energy supply." "Emissions will be greatly reduced."
The focus of this release will be to establish an independent connection that uses solar panels to charge batteries that can be used at any time, as well as a micro-grid, which works in a similar way but can meet greater needs. Both will operate separately from the national network.
The project will also provide low-interest government loans to bidders across the industry in lieu of contracts or grants to fund equipment and construction, which is contrary to Nigeria’s usual electrification methods. The business will repay the money borrowed from the customer’s income.
Adedeji Adeniran, a senior researcher at the Center for African Economic Research in Abuja, said: “The government is not only trying to use renewable energy as a tool to solve energy problems, but it can also alleviate poverty. This is a good habit.” "This shows that the sustainability agenda is being taken seriously."

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