Reliable and affordable electricity remains a major challenge for households, businesses, and communities across Nigeria. As more Nigerians turn to solar energy to meet their power needs, questions around investment, local manufacturing, regulation, and access are becoming increasingly important. These issues were at the centre of the Lagos Solar Forum 2026, which brought stakeholders together to discuss practical ways to strengthen Nigeria’s solar sector.
Held on 5th August, 2026, under the theme “Building Consensus for Nigeria’s Just Energy Transition Future,” the Forum brought together representatives from government, the private sector, renewable energy organisations, financial institutions, civil society, development partners, academia, faith-based organisations, and the media. The discussions focused on the policies, investments, partnerships, and actions needed to expand energy access while supporting the growth of a stronger domestic solar industry.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Micheal highlighted the scale of Nigeria’s electricity access challenge and the growing role of solar energy in providing alternatives to unreliable grid supply. The Forum called for a gradual approach to local manufacturing, supported by incentives for local production, investment in local assembly, and affordable financing for clean energy systems.
The keynote address by Mr. Olamide Fagbuji, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology, focused on the wider opportunities within Nigeria’s energy transition. He highlighted renewable energy as an opportunity to improve electricity access, support industrial development, create jobs, and strengthen energy security. He also stressed that Nigeria’s renewable energy development should extend beyond installing solar systems to include research, manufacturing, financing, technical skills, maintenance, and recycling. He called for stronger investment in skills development, battery storage, smart grids, and research and development.
Two panel discussions provided an opportunity for stakeholders to explore these issues in greater detail. The first, “Catalysing Investment and Expanding Solar Markets,” examined financing, local manufacturing, policy certainty, entrepreneurship, and investor confidence. The second panel, “Shaping Nigeria’s Solar Future: Regulation, Policy, Governance & Standardisation,” focused on regulation, technical standards, professional certification, licensing, workforce development, and institutional coordination. Participants emphasised that existing policies must be effectively implemented and supported by accountable institutions if Nigeria is to achieve wider access to reliable and affordable energy. Participants also supported phased local content policies rather than immediate restrictions on imported solar products.
The Forum concluded with broad support for a transparent national solar roadmap covering local manufacturing, financing, regulation, policy implementation, and quality assurance. Its recommendations will contribute to the Lagos Solar Forum Communiqué and continued engagement among government, industry, development partners, and other stakeholders. The discussions reinforced an important lesson: expanding Nigeria’s solar sector will require both immediate attention to energy access and long-term investment in local capacity.