The Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has commissioned a 581kWp interconnected solar mini-grid project in Oke-Oyi Community, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, under the Rural Electrification Fund – Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (REF-IMAS) of the Rural Electrification Agency.
The project, developed by Nayo Tropical technologies Limited, with support from the German Cooperation and the European Union through GIZ, is designed to expand access to reliable electricity while supporting economic activities and improving livelihoods in Oke-Oyi community.
The project has a total installed capacity of 581kWp, comprising 1,336 solar panels and 84 batteries, with approximately 10 kilometres of distribution cables and transformers supporting the electricity distribution network. The project serves a community with an estimated population of 13,000 people, with electricity connections extended to residential and productive users.
The intervention is already contributing to increased economic activity in Oke-Oyi, with new businesses emerging following the availability of improved electricity supply. These include twelve welding businesses, two pure water companies, four grain mills, four aluminium artisan businesses, one ice-block production business and one cold-room/ice-fish depot. Three electricity vendors are also currently operating, with three additional vendors, including a female entrepreneur, expected to be registered.
The construction phase of the project also provided employment opportunities for members of the community through the engagement of painters, welders, bricklayers, iron benders, tilers, plumbers, borehole diggers and excavation laborers.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented at the event, welcomed the intervention and noted the importance of reliable electricity to economic activities and community development.“For Kwara State, every intervention that expands reliable electricity access to our communities is an important step towards creating a more conducive environment for enterprise, employment and improved livelihoods. We appreciate the Federal Government, REA and all development and private-sector partners for this investment in Oke-Oyi and look forward to its continued contribution to the development of the community.
The Th Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, said the commissioning reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding electricity access and ensuring that energy investments translate into improved livelihoods and economic opportunities.
“The purpose of electrification is ultimately to improve lives and create opportunities. What we are commissioning today in Oke-Oyi is an investment in the productive capacity of the community. When electricity enables a welder to expand his business, a grain miller to operate more efficiently or a new enterprise to emerge, we are seeing the direct connection between energy access and economic development.”The Minister further emphasized the importance of sustaining completed electricity infrastructure and ensuring that the benefits of such investments are maintained over the long term
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the Oke-Oyi project demonstrates the Agency’s commitment to deploying electricity infrastructure that delivers tangible economic value to communities.“The real measure of an electrification project is not only the infrastructure we commission, but the opportunities that reliable electricity creates for the people who use it.
In Oke-Oyi, we are already seeing new businesses emerge, productive activities expand and livelihoods being supported. This is precisely the kind of impact we seek to achieve through the Rural Electrification Agency and our partnership with the private sector and development partners.”He added that the sustainability of the investment would remain an important consideration beyond commissioning, noting that communities, developers and other stakeholders all have a role to play in protecting and maximizing the value of the infrastructure.
The Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Dr Karin Jansen, also speaking at the ceremony, highlighted the importance of strong partnerships in advancing sustainable energy access in Nigeria. She commended the Federal Ministry of Power, REA, the Kwara State Government, IBEDC, Nayo Tropical Technology, the EU, GIZ and the Oke-Oyicommunity for their contributions to the project.
She noted that the interconnected mini-grid demonstrates how partnerships between the public sector, development partners and private-sector developers can deliver practical and sustainable energy solutions for underserved communities.
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n her address, she said, “Today is more than connecting a community to electricity; it is about demonstrating what is possible when government, development partners, utilities, private-sector developers and communities work together towards a common objective. We hope that the experience gained through this project will provide useful lessons for future interconnected mini-grids and other distributed energy solutions across Nigeria.”
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) said the Oke-Oyi project demonstrates the value of collaboration between distribution companies, REA, private-sector developers and development partners in expanding reliable electricity access to communities.
“The successful integration of the Oke-Oyi interconnected mini-grid into the distribution network demonstrates what can be achieved when key stakeholders work together to improve electricity supply. This project will provide customers in the community with greater access to reliable electricity while supporting businesses and productive activities. IBEDC remains committed to working with REA and other partners to ensure that the benefits of this investment are sustained and translated into improved electricity services for the people of Oke-Oyi.”
The Community Leader of Oke-Oyi expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, REA and development partners for bringing the project to the community, while assuring stakeholders of the community’s commitment to protecting the infrastructure.“Today is a day of joy for the people of Oke-Oyi. We have longed for reliable electricity to improve our lives and economic activities, and we are already seeing new businesses emerge in our community. On behalf of our people, we assure all stakeholders of our full cooperation in protecting this project and ensuring that it continues to serve our community.”
The commissioning ceremony brought together representatives of the Federal and Kwara State Governments, the Rural Electrification Agency, development partners, the project developer, electricity distribution stakeholders, the Ilorin East Local Government Area, community leaders and residents.
The Oke-Oyi project forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts, through REA, to expand electricity access to unserved and underserved communities and promote the use of renewable energy solutions to support economic and social development.About the Rural Electrification AgencyThe Rural Electrification Agency is the implementing agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Federal Ministry of Power, mandated to provide electricity access to unserved and underserved communities across the country.
