By Nnasom David

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mente Energy Limited to launch the Renewable Energy Localisation and Industrialisation Programme (RELIP), aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.

The agreement, signed in Abuja, was jointly endorsed by Abba Aliyu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the REA, and Tolu Osekita, Founder and Managing Partner of Mente Energy.

The initiative is designed to transform Nigeria’s renewable energy space into a structured and investment-ready industrial ecosystem capable of driving job creation, local manufacturing, and long-term economic growth.

Over the past decade, Nigeria has recorded significant growth in renewable energy adoption, with increased use of solar solutions, mini-grids, and solar home systems across urban and rural communities.

Commercial and industrial players have also increasingly adopted distributed renewable energy to power operations.

Under the RELIP framework, a 20-year national demand model for renewable energy components will be developed to provide a clear outlook on market potential and guide investments in the sector.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Aliyu said the programme would help retain more economic value within the country.

“By organising national demand and strengthening the institutional architecture for domestic manufacturing, we are creating the conditions for investment, jobs, and industrial growth to take root here in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the agency is open to partnerships with both local and international investors committed to building Nigeria’s clean energy industrial base.

Osekita described the initiative as a major opportunity to unlock industrial growth within the sector.
“What RELIP does is bring structure to those significant opportunities, creating the clarity and confidence needed for capital, local and global, to invest at scale,” he said.

The MoU establishes a five-year framework for collaboration between the REA and Mente Energy, with RELIP as its flagship programme. The first phase, expected within six months, will focus on developing the analytical, commercial, and institutional systems required to attract investment.

The programme will also align government initiatives with private sector demand to create a pipeline of bankable projects, while supporting investment in areas such as solar module assembly, battery production, and inverter manufacturing.

The partnership is also expected to lay the foundation for the Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum (NREIF 2.0), aimed at mobilising large-scale capital into the sector.