On March 10th, 2020, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), held the project launch of the AfDB-funded Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP-AfDB).
The event hosted over 80 participants at The Envoy Hotel, Abuja, with the aim of creating awareness of the project to the media, stakeholders and the general public.
The event had a wide range of participants including the Honourable Minister of State for Power; the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure; senior management of the REA led by the Chairman of the Board and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer; representatives of the African Development Bank led by the Acting Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Complex; representatives of development partners GIZ and USAID; representatives of other federal government agencies in the country’s power sector; and members of the press.
The objectives of the event were to:
1. Provide an overview of the project’s aspirations and benefits for the Nigerians
2. Provide a description of how the project will be implemented
The event also served as platform for deepening the theme of fostering continued synergy between the REA, AfDB, development partners and other key stakeholders, as well as highlight the roles of all relevant stakeholders in ensuring accountability, ownership and sustainability on NEP-AfDB.
In his speech, the MD/CEO REA, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad reiterated REA’s commitment to ensure the success of the project by leveraging on the experiences and lessons learned from the World Bank-funded NEP. He also stated the active collaboration with development partners, private sector developers, financiers and other key stakeholders in the public and private sector to achieve the agency’s mandate on the Project.
