The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr. Abba Aliyu, has received an Award of Excellence in recognition of his performance in promoting transparency and efficiency in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
The honour was presented over the weekend by the Editorial Board of Energy Times, which said the selection was based on individuals whose contributions are significantly reshaping the country’s energy landscape.
According to the Chairman of the Board, Yakubu Lawal, Dr. Aliyu stood out for demonstrating strong financial discipline and effective project execution, including an 85 per cent budget implementation rate while overseeing major international funding initiatives.
Lawal added that the award also reflects Aliyu’s role in advancing Nigeria’s transition toward decentralized and sustainable power systems.
A key highlight of his leadership, according to the organisers, is the implementation of the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project. The programme is backed by a $750 million facility from the World Bank and is regarded as one of the largest renewable energy initiatives globally.
He also noted that the REA boss has engaged multiple state governments through technical consultations and energy mapping exercises aimed at improving planning and local ownership of electrification projects.
Under his leadership, the agency has also promoted the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, which encourages private sector participation in utility-scale energy delivery. This approach, according to the organisers, has contributed to growth in local production capacity, including early steps toward solar panel exports to neighbouring countries.
Dr. Aliyu, while reacting to the recognition, said the achievement reflects ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s power sector under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and coordinated by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
He stated that the REA is expanding access to clean electricity across the country, with efforts aimed at reaching millions of households through mini-grid and off-grid solutions.
He also referenced a recent funding agreement worth N100 billion, which is already supporting the rollout of renewable energy infrastructure projects nationwide.
