The Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), implemented by the ECOWAS Commission in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria, has announced plans to host a three-day Entrepreneurship Business Training (EBT) Workshop for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the solar energy sector. The workshop, scheduled for April 28–30, 2025, will take place in Lagos.
Building on the success of a similar training held in March 2025 in Abuja, where 50 SMEs were trained, the Lagos edition aims to empower another 50 SMEs with the technical, financial, and business management skills needed to thrive in the fast-growing renewable energy sector. With this initiative, ROGEAP and Ecobank would have trained a total of 100 SMEs, further advancing efforts to boost business capacity and promote the adoption of stand-alone solar solutions in off-grid communities.
Participants will be exposed to a wide range of modules covering the off-grid solar value chain, quality assurance standards, environmental and social risk management, business model development, and access to financial opportunities, including ROGEAP grants and credit facilities.
Expert trainers from ROGEAP, Ecobank, and other industry leaders will deliver the sessions, offering practical strategies for market expansion, quality compliance, and leveraging ROGEAP’s credit opportunities to scale their businesses.
Speaking on the forthcoming training, Tunde Dawodu, Divisional Head, FCT/North at Ecobank Nigeria, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting SMEs. “We recognize the significant contribution of SMEs to national economic development. When SMEs succeed, we all succeed—the bank, the entrepreneurs, and the country at large. This training complements our Ellevate Program and Single Market Trade Hub, offering access to financial products, digital tools, and strategic guidance for broader market expansion,” he stated.
A representative of the ECOWAS Commission emphasized ROGEAP’s broader objectives, noting that through its Renewable Energy Center (ECREEE), the Commission continues to champion entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector. “ROGEAP was designed to create an enabling environment and produce champions in the region. More than 600 technicians across 19 countries have been trained under the project,” the representative said.
Highlighting the importance of the training, ROGEAP Project Fund Manager, Salamatu Baba, described the initiative as a significant investment in West Africa’s clean energy future. “By equipping solar entrepreneurs with the right tools, knowledge, and networks, we are building a resilient ecosystem that will drive energy access, create jobs, and support economic development across underserved communities,” she said.
ROGEAP is funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Netherlands. The project is aimed at scaling the adoption of stand-alone solar systems for households, businesses, and institutions across 19 West African and Sahel countries.
Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, continues to play a pivotal role in driving financial inclusion and supporting pan-African trade, with over 250 branches and about 50,000 agency banking locations nationwide.