- The REA will support REFA 2026 in Lagos, where investors and energy stakeholders will discuss Nigeria’s solar market and investment opportunities.
- The forum will also examine local manufacturing, including a planned 1GW solar module facility and existing government-backed renewable energy programmes.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) will support the Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) 2026 in Lagos on November 25 and 26.
The forum will focus on Nigeria’s growing solar market and efforts to attract investment into renewable energy.
The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) is organising the event with support from SolarPower Europe. It will bring together investors, developers, regulators, utilities and policymakers at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island.
REA Managing Director Abba Abubakar Aliyu will deliver the keynote address at the opening plenary. The agency said the forum would strengthen partnerships, attract investment and advance Nigeria’s clean energy and local manufacturing ambitions.
Nigeria’s Solar Market and Investment Opportunities
Nigeria has about 618MWp of operational solar capacity, according to AFSIA. This places the country first in West Africa and eighth across Africa.
The country also leads Africa in mini-grid capacity, with 132MWp. Its commercial and industrial (C&I) solar capacity stands at 385MWp.
Two major funding initiatives are supporting the market’s expansion. The $750m World Bank-backed Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme targets 1,350 mini-grids.
DARES also aims to provide electricity access to 17.5 million Nigerians.
Another initiative, the $300m Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund, launched in September 2026. The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and Africa50 manage the fund.
It will finance mini-grids, standalone solar systems and other distributed energy projects.
Local Solar Manufacturing on the Forum Agenda
REFA 2026 will also examine opportunities for local solar manufacturing. Nigeria recently launched its first privately owned 100MW solar module assembly plant in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
The REA, Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) and Solarge are also developing a 1GW manufacturing facility.
As part of the project, REA has committed to purchasing at least 200MW annually for five years.
The forum will feature business-to-business meetings and an exhibition. The programme will also include the AFSIA Awards on November 25.