Education
Solar firms support 100 MSMEs to drive energy transition – EnviroNews
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No fewer than 100 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have received training and financing support to adopt solar energy and reduce reliance on petrol and diesel generators.
Ms. Chioma Ome, Country Director, Solar Sister Nigeria, disclosed this on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in Abuja during a three-day ZE-GEN MSME Solar Adoption Programme.
She said the initiative was designed to address energy challenges limiting the productivity and growth of small businesses.
The programme combines solar awareness, business capacity building and structured financing to accelerate clean energy adoption among MSMEs.
Ome said the programme targeted at least 70 per cent solar adoption among participating businesses after the training.
She said the businesses would be linked with microfinance institutions and other financial providers to enable them acquire solar systems and repay through instalments.
“Participating businesses comprised fashion and tailoring enterprises, hair salons, cold-storage businesses and agricultural enterprises involved in grinding, milling and processing.
“The training is being conducted in two batches of 50 MSMEs each, bringing the total number of participating businesses to 100.
“Solar energy provides a more reliable and less stressful alternative.
“The upfront cost can be a challenge, which is why we are connecting interested MSMEs with microfinance institutions and other credit facilities to enable them acquire solar systems and repay over 18 months to two years,” she said.
Ome said unreliable electricity supply remained a major constraint to MSME productivity in the country.
She added that solar energy could reduce the cost and stress associated with operating generators.
The country director said the training was also exposing entrepreneurs to the full cost of running businesses on fossil-fuel generators, including maintenance expenses and health risks from generator emissions.
She called for stronger collaboration among government, private-sector organisations and development partners to expand access to clean energy solutions for MSMEs.
In her remarks, Ms. Eessy Adjoring, Manager of Operations, Anfani Energy Ltd., said the ZE-GEN project was being implemented in partnership with Solar Sister Nigeria.
She said the Carbon Trust facilitated the project, with support from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Adjoring said the programme went beyond sensitising MSMEs to solar energy by creating financing pathways for adoption.
“It is one thing to preach adoption and another to actually help businesses adopt these solutions.
“The main aim of this project is, therefore, to create financing pathways that will enable MSMEs to adopt solar energy,” she said.
She identified poor financial readiness as a major barrier preventing MSMEs from accessing available funding.
According to her, many businesses lack proper documentation, bookkeeping records and evidence of healthy cash flow.
Adjoring urged entrepreneurs to register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), maintain proper financial records, comply with tax obligations and demonstrate profitability to improve their access to credit.
“Financiers want to see evidence that a business is profitable and capable of repaying the financing.
“They want to know that the solar solution will help the business improve its productivity and generate profit,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr. Funto Babarude, Assistant Director, SMEDAN, urged MSMEs to “solarise” their businesses, saying the transition could reduce production costs, minimise losses and increase productivity.
Babarude said funding opportunities were available through SMEDAN’s growth fund, the Bank of Industry, microfinance banks and the Bank of Agriculture.
“Entrepreneurs must be able to account for funds received and provide evidence of turnover, cash flow, profitability and credible business plans.
“It is not enough to build their capacity or teach them how to operate their businesses and use solar technology.
“They must also be connected to financial institutions where they can access the funds required to implement what they have learnt,” she said.
A representative of LAPO Microfinance Bank, Mr. Segun Williams, said the bank was ready to finance solar solutions for businesses across sectors, including agriculture, tailoring and other SMEs.
Williams said financing could be structured according to the needs and capacity of individual businesses, with facilities ranging from smaller amounts to N100 million or N150 million, depending on the enterprise and its requirements.
He added that LAPO had branches across several states, enabling entrepreneurs outside Abuja to access its services, while special programmes were available for young entrepreneurs.
One of the beneficiaries, Comrade Ali Paul, Chairman, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, FCT Council, said the training was timely.
He said inadequate electricity supply had caused businesses to lose opportunities and delay service delivery.
Paul said the rising cost of petrol, coupled with generator operating and maintenance costs, had made solar energy an increasingly attractive alternative.
“With the high cost of PMS in Nigeria, coupled with the cost of operating and maintaining generators, solar provides an opportunity for us to operate our businesses at a lower cost and deliver our services more efficiently,” he said.
He commended the organisers for the practical and interactive training.
By Patricia Amogu