Anambra community benefits from UNDP/BOI rural solar powered initiative

The Bank of Industry (BOI) and the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) has taken further their intervention in rural solar-powered solution by commissioning a 24KW solar micro-grid for Onono-Anam, a remote village in Anambra West Local government Area, of Anambra state today.

Households in Onono-Anam saw the erection of solar panels atop their roofs with the capacity to power electric bulbs, electric fans and other basic household appliances.

This week, the bank also commissioned a 24KW micro-grid solar solution for the benefit of 250 households of rural dwellers in Kolwa, Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State.

A release by the bank stated that “Kolwa electrification project is a 24KW capacity installation that covers a six-kilometre distribution network, and is also capable of providing commercial ventures with electricity. While the BoI/UNDP solar power pilot project is to be installed in six rural communities in the six geo-political zones, the Kolwa project makes it three of such so far installed.”

Onono-Anam community will be the fourth place to benefit from the intervention. Projects previously installed are in Bisanti, in Katcha LGA of Niger, and in Onibambu, in Ife-North LGA in Osun.

The BOI/UNDP Access Renewable Energy Programme focuses on increasing the national capacity to invest in and utilise renewable energy resources to improve access to modern energy services for Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs).

According to Rasheed Olaoluwa, managing director of Bol, the programme is in furtherance of the United Nations’ campaign for eco-friendly sources of energy.

Data from UNDP indicate that while Bank of Industry contributed $150,000 to the project, UNDP has pledged $4.5million to their various rural electrification projects in Nigeria since it commenced in 2012.

UNDP’s intervention in 2012 had included improvement in the regulatory, institutional and financing framework that has led to a greater awareness in the use of renewable energy options in facilitating MSME growth for quality economic growth and development.

The agency organized a stakeholder’s forum across 11 states of the federation out of which four of the states (Anambra, Lagos, Niger and Sokoto) had initiated the development of Renewable Energy Policies for their respective states. UNDP reports that most banks and financial institutions now have Renewable Energy Desks dedicated to the providing banking solutions for renewable energy projects.