ECOWAS ROGEAP and Ecobank Nigeria to Host Entrepreneurship Training for Solar SMEs in Lagos
RSD News Portal ECOWAS ROGEAP and Ecobank Nigeria to Host Entrepreneurship Training for Solar SMEs in Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria – April 2025 – The Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), implemented by the ECOWAS Commission in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria, has announced a three-day Entrepreneurship Business Training (EBT) Workshop for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the solar energy sector. Scheduled for April 28 – 30, 2025, this workshop builds on a similar training held in March 2025 in Abuja, where 50 SMEs were equipped with vital skills. With the Lagos edition, ROGEAP and Ecobank will have trained 100 SMEs, one of many strategic efforts to boost business capacity and accelerate the adoption of stand-alone solar solutions in off-grid communities.
The training aims to equip another 50 SMEs with the technical, financial, and business management skills needed to thrive in the growing renewable energy sector. Participants will deepen their understanding of the off-grid solar value chain, quality assurance standards, environmental and social risk management practices, and the development of viable business models. They will also be introduced to financial opportunities, including ROGEAP grants and access to credit lines.
Modules will cover a wide range of topics such as the structure of ROGEAP and its grant opportunities, applications of off-grid solar systems, quality compliance, use of the Business Model Canvas, strategies for market expansion, and leveraging ROGEAP’s credit facilities. Expert trainers from ROGEAP, Ecobank, and across the industry will deliver high-impact sessions tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities within the solar sector.
Tunde Dawodu, Divisional Head, FCT / North at Ecobank Nigeria, emphasized the bank’s commitment to supporting SMEs, noting that they are essential to national economic development. “As a bank, we recognize the significant contribution of SMEs to the country’s economy, including their role in job creation and GDP growth. We believe that when SMEs succeed, we all succeed — the Bank, the entrepreneurs, and the country at large. This training on solar installations and sales complements our Ellevate Program and Single Market Trade Hub, providing participants with access to customized financial products, digital tools, and strategic guidance to expand into broader markets,” he said.
A representative of the ECOWAS Commission reflected on the broader objectives of ROGEAP, explaining that the initiative, He said “Through ROGEAP project and its Center in charge of Renewable Energy (ECREEE), ECOWAS provides considerable support for entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector. Conscious that training is a fundamental pillar to enable our private sector to be dynamic and efficient, ECOWAS has designed ROGEAP in order to set up an enabling environment and to create champions in the Region. ROGEAP has trained more than 600 technicians across 19 countries covered by the project.” the representative noted.
From the perspective of the ROGEAP Project Fund Manager, Salamatu Baba highlighted the significance of the training in achieving regional impact: “This workshop is more than just a learning event, it’s an investment in the future of clean energy across West Africa. 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 strengthen economic development across underserved communities.”
ROGEAP, funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Netherlands, is focused on scaling the adoption of stand-alone solar systems for households, businesses, and institutions in 19 West African and Sahel countries. This entrepreneurship training in Lagos is a pivotal step in building the capacity of local businesses to meet the growing demand for reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions.
About ROGEAP
The Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP) is funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Netherlands. It is implemented by ECOWAS through a Project Fund Manager (PFM). ROGEAP’s mission is to enhance access to sustainable energy across 12 ECOWAS member countries and 7 additional African nations by developing a regional market for off-grid solar products and supporting value chain stakeholders.
About Ecobank Nigeria Limited
Ecobank Nigeria Ltd. is a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking group with operations in 35 African countries and an international presence in four locations (London, Paris, Beijing, and Dubai). Ecobank’s platform is designed to unlock the opportunities of the continent, facilitating regional integration, trade, and investment across borders.
In Nigeria, Ecobank provides accessible, affordable, and instant banking services through its broad range of digital platforms, over 250 branches, and about 50,000 agency banking locations. It is strategically positioned to support pan-African trade, especially with the ongoing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
ROGEAP Project Fund Manager (PFM)
Name: Apochi Nelson Owoicho
Email: apochinelson.owoicho@gopa-afc.de
Phone: +2347089321753
Website: https://rogeappfm.com/
Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn: @rogeappfm
Ecobank Nigeria
Name: Odidison Omankhanlen
Email: oomankhanlen@ecobank.com
Phone: +234 803 576 5439
Website: www.ecobank.com
Instagram: @Ecobank_Nigeria
Facebook: @Ecobank Nigeria
X: @Ecobank_Nigeria
Project Implementation Unit (PIU)
Badara POUYE, Principal Communication Officer, ROGEAP PIU
Email: bpouye@ecowas.int
Phone: 0761106778
Website: https://ecowas.rogeap.org/
Warm Regards
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Odidison Omankhanlen
Marketing and Corporate Communications
Mobile: 08035765439
VoIP: 810160
Email: oomankhanlen@ecobank.com
Ecobank Nig. Limited
270 B1 Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island – Lagos – Nigeria
PO BOX: 72688 – Victoria Island – Lagos – NIGERIA
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