PRESS RELEASE
Over 300 renewable energy professionals attend All On and REA DRE Developer Forum to explore World Bank’s DARES Project
All On, in collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), successfully hosted the Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) Developer Forum on April 23, 2025, in Abuja, bringing together a diverse range of Off-grid Developers from across Nigeria’s renewable energy ecosystem.
The hybrid forum provided developers and investors with an in-depth insight to the World Bank’s Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) Project- implemented under the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), including guidance on the application process, funding requirements, and technical preparedness criteria.
The event saw impressive participation, with over 30 DRE developers represented physically, and an additional 300+ stakeholders joining virtually from across the country, and even the globe. The strong turnout reflects the tremendous interest in the DARES project and the potential it holds for accelerating off-grid energy access in underserved communities.
Caroline Eboumbou, CEO, All On: “Caroline Eboumbou, CEO, All On: “We’re proud to have convened such a dynamic group of developers and stakeholders who are committed to expanding clean energy access. The DARES program is a critical step towards bridging the gap to energy access and we are thankful for the REA's participation in today's important workshop. We're excited to support the ecosystem in leveraging it to scale impact.”
Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director/CEO of REA, emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration: “Delivering universal energy access requires more than just funding-it demands deep, sustained collaboration across the public and private sectors. This forum demonstrates what’s possible when we work together to equip developers with the knowledge and partnerships they need to succeed. REA remains committed to fostering these kinds of strategic engagements that move the sector forward”
Olufemi Akinyelure, Head, Nigeria Electrification Programme, provided additional context on the project’s role in achieving national electrification goals: “DARES represents the next phase in Nigeria’s energy access story, one that shifts power to the states, opens doors for developers and puts underserved communities first. Forums like this ensure we’re not just rolling out infrastructure, but building an ecosystem of trust, readiness and long-term impact”
The forum also featured interactive sessions and Q&A segments that gave developers direct access to REA’s technical team, enhancing clarity and preparedness for participation in the upcoming call for proposals under DARES.
The forum served as a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and alignment between the public and private sectors, reinforcing the shared goal of achieving universal energy access through innovative, decentralized solutions.
About All On:
All On Partnerships for Energy Access (All On), an independent impact investing company, was seeded by Shell to catalyze the growth of Nigeria’s off-grid energy market to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for low-income households and small businesses.
The Demand Aggregation for Renewable Technology (DART) Program combines demand pooling and aggregated purchasing of solar equipment, access to affordable finance, and coordinated logistics to unlock economies of scale for solar companies, achieve cost savings for end-users, and accelerate the growth of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria and beyond. The DART program is funded by GEAPP and All On.
Visit www.all-on.com/dart-program.html to learn more about the DART Program. For media enquiries, contact communications@all-on.com
About the Rural Electrification Agency (REA):
The REA is the implementing Agency under the Federal Ministry of Power, tasked with the electrification of unserved and underserved communities, towards catalysing economic growth and improving the quality of life for Nigerians. The REA also is tasked with the responsibility of executing its electrification programmes and initiatives by utilising off-grid renewable energy sources. One of the REA’s main objectives remain the creation of an enabling entry channel into the off-grid markets for rural, unserved and underserved electrification services, in accordance with industry best standards. As part of its mandate to develop, promote and implement electrification programmes across Nigeria, the REA is implementing various programmes and initiatives: notably the Nigeria Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project.
The Nigeria DARES Project is a $750 million initiative funded by the World Bank and is designed to accelerate access to reliable, decentralized energy solutions for unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria. The project aims to empower state governments, enable private sector participation, and scale solar technologies to reach over 17.5 million Nigerians supporting the World Bank’s Mission300 agenda and Nigeria’s broader energy transition goals.
