ECOWAS ROGEAP, Ecobank To Host Entrepreneurship Training For Solar SMEs in Lagos

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 further about the initiative.

“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