German experts have called for a shift in Nigeria and the entire West Africa’s energy transition strategy with a move beyond basic electricity access and a focus on turning green and renewable energy into sustainable livelihoods and investable assets.

According to the experts, while electrification is often symbolised by a single light bulb illuminating homes, the real impact lies in powering businesses, agriculture and industries that generate income and employment for the people.

They stated this yesterday, at the 14th edition of the West Africa Clean Energy and Environment (WACEE) Trade Fair and Conference, held in Lagos from March 17-18, with the theme, ‘Accelerating West Africa’s Green Transition: Innovation, Policy and Investment’.

The event was organised by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria (AHK Nigeria) – through its service unit, DGIC International Business Services Limited.

The keynote speaker, Chief Executive Officer of EnergiseImpact Group, Ulf Brackmann, said unreliable energy supply is not only an electricity challenge but also a broader economic issue affecting jobs, productivity, competitiveness and prosperity.

Brackmann painted a picture of rural and semi-urban economies disrupted by unreliable electricity, where agro-processing mills shut down, cold storage facilities fail, and small businesses lose income due to power outages and high diesel costs.

He stressed that reliable and affordable renewable sources can transform such communities by enabling small businesses to operate longer hours, preserving agricultural produce and enhancing incomes for farmers and entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the financing gap in the sector, Brackmann said that although there is significant global capital available for green investments, many energy projects in Africa fail to attract funding because they are not structured as scalable and bankable ventures.

Brackmann emphasised that renewable technologies such as solar, wind, hydrogen and mini-grids are already proven and operational across countries like Nigeria and Ghana, highlighting that the projects often remain small, fragmented and inconsistent in structure, which makes them unattractive to institutional investors.

To address this, he advocated for the aggregation of smaller energy projects into larger, standardised portfolios that can meet the investment criteria of global financiers.

Brackmann explained that bundling multiple projects into Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) would help diversify risks, standardise contracts and create investment opportunities that institutional investors can support.

On policy, Brackmann called on governments across West Africa to create stable and transparent regulatory frameworks, including predictable tariffs and investor-friendly policies that reduce risks and encourage long-term investments.

The Consul General of Germany in Nigeria, Daniel Krull, called on policymakers and business leaders to prioritise policy consistency, innovation and collaboration in addressing the twin challenges of climate change and rising energy demand in Nigeria.

The German envoy noted that reliability and predictability of government policies remain critical factors for attracting long-term green investment, but cautioned against frequent policy changes.

Krull stressed that investors will continue to shy away from Nigeria if governments fail to provide a predictable business environment.

“You cannot change policy every three to four years and expect investors to commit. Regional leaders need to create stable and transparent frameworks that will encourage both local and foreign investment,” he said.

In his opening remarks, the delegate of AHK Nigeria, Bastian Lidzba, stressed that stronger collaboration between Nigeria and Germany is critical to transforming environmental challenges into viable economic opportunities, particularly in the areas of sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience and green finance.

He said achieving it also requires deeper private sector engagement, enabling policy frameworks and innovative financing mechanisms.

Lidzba stressed that mobilising green finance remains a fundamental driver in scaling sustainable investments, adding that the transition to a green economy is no longer a mere aspiration, but an economic necessity for nations seeking long-term growth and urban productivity.
He said sustainable mobility systems and green infrastructure will play a defining role in enhancing the livability and productivity of cities, particularly as urban populations continue to expand.