Stakeholders have called for the strengthening of existing informal apprenticeship and on-the-job learning systems to support the transition to clean energy in the country.

They said training should move beyond short courses towards progressive skills development that combines theory, practical experience, assessment and recognised certification.

They also advised that experienced generator technicians should be provided with accessible pathways to upgrade their skills in solar installation, maintenance and other renewable-energy services.

The stakeholders spoke at a convening in Lagos, where findings from a rapid labour-market assessment were presented and discussed by informal energy workers, solar installers, technicians, researchers, training institutions, employers, policymakers and other stakeholders examining the opportunities and challenges associated with the transition.

The study is being undertaken by Dr Eghosa Igudia of De Montfort University, Leicester, and Dr Tim Kelsall of ODI Global and the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), with support from researchers at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Federation of Informal Workers Organisations of Nigeria (FIWON).

The gathering also brought together representatives of the informal workforce, government, solar companies, training institutions and development organisations to consider practical interventions for supporting the transition from genset-based livelihoods to solar employment.

The researchers said that with 65 per cent of respondents identifying apprenticeship as an important learning pathway, policymakers and training institutions could build on a system already deeply embedded in Lagos’ technical economy.

Other recommended measures include improved apprenticeship pathways, technician certification, industry-led training, structured reskilling programmes and stronger collaboration among government, training providers and the private sector.

The assessment found that only 58 per cent of energy technicians surveyed in Lagos had attended solar-related training, highlighting significant gaps in skills development as the state’s energy economy gradually shifts from generators to solar power.

The finding emerged from a rapid labour-market assessment conducted as part of a four-month action research project examining the transition from genset-based livelihoods to solar employment in Lagos.

Presenting the findings, Igudia noted that much of Lagos’ solar skills development currently takes place outside formal education and training systems. Among participants who had acquired solar-related skills, 36 per cent first learned through apprenticeships, 35 per cent through other technicians and 25 per cent through company training.

The dominance of informal pathways was even more evident in how technicians said they acquire skills in practice. Apprenticeship was identified by 65 per cent of respondents as an important learning pathway, while 23 per cent identified learning on the job.

The findings suggest that the informal sector is not simply a source of labour for the solar industry but an important part of Lagos’ skills-development infrastructure.

However, the quality and duration of training remain areas of concern. The research found that the largest proportion of participants, 22 per cent, had undertaken solar-related training lasting between two and seven days.

Igudia noted that while short courses could provide useful introductory knowledge, the findings raised questions about whether such training was sufficient to equip technicians with the comprehensive technical competencies required for increasingly complex solar installations.

At the same time, the study found strong evidence of the value technicians place on practical experience. About 49 per cent of participants reported receiving substantial hands-on training, while 58 per cent described the training they received as very useful.

The findings indicate that practical learning is a major component of solar skills acquisition and could provide an important foundation for designing future training programmes.

The researchers said the evidence points to the need for a training system that combines the strengths of Lagos’ existing apprenticeship and informal learning structures with more structured technical training, certification and quality assurance.

They added that the findings demonstrate that the transition from generators to solar is not only an energy or environmental issue but also a major workforce and livelihood transition.

For thousands of technicians whose livelihoods have historically depended on the generator economy, the growth of solar presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

Rather than displacing these workers, the researchers said their existing technical experience could be harnessed through structured “genset-to-solar” reskilling programmes.

Igudia, who led the fieldwork and stakeholder engagement, said informal technicians should be treated as active stakeholders in the energy transition because they possess practical knowledge and established networks within communities.

He said the approach underpins the current study and aligns with the ACRC’s Theory of Change, which places mobilised citizens at the centre of reform and seeks to strengthen coalitions capable of influencing policy and institutional change.

The research team will produce a policy brief for policymakers and development partners, as well as a narrative report highlighting the experiences and perspectives of informal technicians.

The researchers said the ultimate objective is to ensure that Lagos’ transition to cleaner energy creates new economic opportunities for existing workers while helping to build a technically competent workforce capable of supporting the expansion of solar energy.