In a high-level engagement that underscores the deepening ties between Africa’s largest economy and the world’s fifth-largest, the Rural Electrification Agency’s Nigeria Electrification Programme (REA-NEP), alongside Yakubu Gowon University (formerly the University of Abuja), hosted a distinguished delegation from California. The delegation was received by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Mathew Adamu. The dialogue, which centred on renewable energy, transportation, and academic collaboration, marked another stride in Nigeria’s efforts to bridge its energy access gap while pursuing a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Led by Dr. Adetokunbo “Tokunbo” Nishakó Omishakin, California’s Secretary of Transportation, the delegation comprised senior government officials, business leaders, and academics. The visit forms part of the California–Africa Climate and Economic Partnership, an initiative that has seen the delegation tour Ethiopia, Kenya, and now Nigeria, with the aim of expanding cooperation in six strategic areas: clean transportation, smart agriculture, innovation and technology, university partnerships, the creative economy, and clean energy.
Nigeria’s energy deficit remains a formidable challenge, yet, there are notable bright spots. Through projects like the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) implemented by the REA, select Federal universities, including Yakubu Gowon University, now run on dedicated solar hybrid power plants.
Professor Adamu underscored the transformative role of the EEP, noting that his experience in Makurdi (Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University)) had given him firsthand knowledge of the programme’s reliability and impact in ensuring uninterrupted power supply for teaching, learning, and research. Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University was among the beneficiaries of the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) Phase I and as the Acting VC testified, has operated off-grid for over three years, relying solely on its EEP solar hybrid plant.
He also stressed that stable electricity is not just a necessity but a determinant of institutional progress. “If we do not get power right, our university’s ranking will not move forward,” he warned. “We must embed sustainability into these projects to safeguard our academic future.”
Representing the Head of NEP, Engr. Joro Sallau reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s clean energy transition. He highlighted that while projects like EEP demonstrate REA’s capacity to deliver transformative renewable energy interventions, the Agency is equally focused on building stronger international partnerships to expand technical expertise, mobilize finance, and accelerate deployment. “What we are showcasing here is more than just infrastructure, it is a model of sustainable collaboration. We are keen on moving beyond site visits to practical partnerships that deliver tangible impact for both Nigeria and California,” he emphasized.
During the visit, the California delegation embarked on a site tour of the 3.0 MW EEP Phase II plant at Yakubu Gowon University. The facility provided a practical demonstration of how renewable energy solutions are securing stable power supply for Nigerian campuses.
Following the tour, the REA-NEP team delivered technical presentations, explaining the models and implementation strategies behind the Nigeria Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project. They also highlighted the measurable impacts of NEP interventions to date, ranging from electrified academic institutions and rural communities to strengthened mini-grid ecosystems and growing private-sector participation.
For the California delegation, the visit was as much about learning as it was about sharing. Commissioner Noemi Gallardo of the California Energy Commission drew parallels between Nigeria’s rural electrification drive and California’s investment in microgrids for Native American tribes, military bases, and underserved communities.
“Energy enables the success of economies, the health of families, and the future of our youth,” Gallardo said. “We have invested over $130 million in microgrid solutions in California, but we are here to learn from Nigeria’s deployment models, which are being tested at scale in real-world conditions.”
California, which already generates 67% of its electricity from clean sources, is pushing toward 100% clean energy by 2045. Yet, as several delegates admitted, Nigeria’s bold target of 80% renewables by 2050 offers lessons in ambition.
While energy dominated the discourse, the engagement also touched on agriculture, innovation, and cultural collaboration. Dr. Omishakin highlighted the strong role agriculture plays in California’s economy and expressed optimism about forging climate-smart agricultural partnerships with Nigeria.
Equally significant was the call for university-to-university collaborations, especially in research, innovation, and student exchange. Delegates from institutions and business councils in California emphasized the potential for partnerships in areas ranging from transportation electrification to biomedical research.
“There’s not much of a future for a community without education,” Dr. Omishakin noted. “We want to establish more partnerships between institutions in Nigeria and California’s globally renowned universities.”
The meeting and site visit concluded with a shared recognition: Nigeria and California, though separated by geography and context, are united by common climate and energy ambitions that demand collaboration. The California-Africa Climate and Economic Partnership has opened new pathways for cooperation, with both sides possibly looking toward concrete steps such as formalizing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), piloting joint projects, and exploring state-level partnerships in renewable energy, clean transportation, and innovation.
