Nigeria and Germany have entered a €20 million partnership aimed at advancing Nigeria’s shift to renewable energy and supporting its broader energy transition goals.
The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning shared that the agreement will be executed through the KfW Development Bank in collaboration with the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund.
This initiative includes an initial €20 million grant and a formal project agreement focused on promoting environmentally sustainable development across Nigeria.
The signing ceremony took place in Abuja, with Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, representing Nigeria. Germany was represented by Dr. Karin Jansen, First Secretary and Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, along with Gerald Keuhnemund of the KfW Development Bank.
Minister Bagudu highlighted three core goals of the project: boosting the use of renewable energy for efficiency, strengthening technical training in renewable technologies, and decreasing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.
He added that the initiative will help expand electricity access in underserved areas while opening up economic opportunities, especially for youth and women.
The minister also noted that building a skilled workforce is key to sustaining progress in Nigeria’s energy sector.
He urged development partners, including the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, to align their programs for better impact and to avoid redundancy, particularly in key sectors such as health and education.
Dr. Jansen, on Germany’s side, described the agreement as a key achievement, especially as the country marks 50 years of its Energy Transition Challenge Fund.
She emphasized that the fund will prioritize high-impact renewable energy projects, reinforcing Germany’s commitment to Nigeria’s clean energy agenda.
source: punchng.com
