As the global energy landscape faces unprecedented challenges—from climate change and energy insecurity to unequal access—Nigeria Energy Forum (NEF) celebrates ten years of championing sustainable solutions that align with a just and equitable energy transition.

Since its inception in 2016, NEF has been instrumental in mobilising multi-million-dollar investments, fostering innovation, and providing a platform for dialogue among policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society. The forum’s efforts have not only helped Nigeria but also contributed to tackling Africa’s energy challenges, demonstrating the power of homegrown solutions in addressing global issues.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy-related carbon emissions exceeded 37 billion tonnes in 2023, even as over 770 million people—mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia—remain without access to electricity. Africa, despite its vast renewable energy potential estimated at over 1,000 GW of solar and 300 GW of wind power, has yet to fully harness these resources due to limited financing, infrastructure deficits, and policy implementation gaps.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, epitomises this paradox with approximately 43% of its population—around 86 million people—still lacking electricity access. Its energy system is plagued by inefficiencies, high costs, and an unreliable grid, with fossil fuels continuing to dominate. However, the country’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), launched in 2022, outlines ambitious goals including 30 GW of electricity capacity by 2030, 30% of which will come from renewables, and a net-zero target by 2060.

Throughout the past decade, NEF has served as a critical hub for aligning Nigeria’s energy ambitions with global climate commitments. Early forums spotlighted systemic inefficiencies and championed innovations such as mini-grids and smart metering. Noteworthy milestones include catalysing a €30 million clean energy fund supported by the European Union in 2019 and swiftly adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on energy’s role in economic resilience.

NEF’s commitment to inclusion is evident. Women and youth have not only participated but led initiatives, with nearly half of all speakers in 2021 being women. Projects like the solar-powered cold hub in Sagokoji, Lagos, have empowered over 100 women seafood processors and thousands more in the community, highlighting NEF’s emphasis on sustainable, community-driven solutions.

The forum’s 2024 edition further emphasised energy’s role in industrialisation, focusing on sectors such as agriculture and solid minerals. University-led innovations and youth-driven solar irrigation projects underscored the growing grassroots energy innovation in Nigeria.

Looking ahead to its 10th anniversary, NEF’s theme—“Decade of Energy Transition for Economic Prosperity”—signals a shift from awareness-building to full-scale implementation of transformative projects. The upcoming 2025 forum, scheduled both in Lagos and virtually, will prioritise energy’s capacity to drive job creation, industrial growth, and global competitiveness, especially through non-oil foreign exchange earnings.

NEF’s agenda will centre on energising economic prosperity, scaling clean transport, advancing innovation, and catalysing investment in productive energy use. This comprehensive approach recognises that the energy transition extends beyond solar panels and grids to include integrated systems that generate wealth, promote prosperity, reduce emissions, and enhance resilience.

With a proven record of turning forums into investment opportunities—having facilitated deals worth \$40 million previously—NEF is poised to mobilise multi-million-dollar capital for industrial decarbonisation, infrastructure corridors, and green innovation hubs across Africa.

The forum also underlines climate-smart solutions as essential for sustainable economic expansion, balancing growing energy demand with ecosystem protection. This focus aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, aiming to reduce emissions by 20% unconditionally or 47% with international support by 2030.

NEF’s future will be shaped by building on past lessons to scale up industrial clean energy projects, deepen regional collaborations, and develop bankable climate-friendly initiatives. Strengthened partnerships with bodies such as UNDP, UNIDO, the African Development Bank, and Afreximbank reinforce its strategic role in Africa’s energy future.

As NEF moves from foundation-laying to large-scale industrialisation, it remains dedicated to nurturing human capital—training the next generation of energy engineers, climate finance experts, and policymakers essential for a successful transition.

The Nigeria Energy Forum stands today not just as a platform for ideas but as a powerful catalyst for action, illuminating the path to a cleaner, prosperous, and sustainable energy future for Nigeria, Africa, and beyond.