REA And Mercy Corps Partner To Enhance Electricity Access In Rural Nigeria

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Mercy Corps have formalized a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the REA Corporate Headquarters in Abuja. This collaboration seeks to bolster electricity cooperatives and improve electricity access across rural communities in Nigeria.

The MoU outlines several key objectives, including the provision of capacity building for the Rural Electricity Users Cooperative Society (REUCS), technical assistance for the Africa Mini-grid Programme (AMP), and support in developing sustainable business models for energy projects such as the Korean Energy Project.

Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director/CEO of REA, highlighted the significance of the partnership in advancing the agency’s mission of project sustainability. “Today’s MoU signing strengthens REA’s commitment to ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of our projects,” he remarked. “Sustainability is not just about project completion but about implementing measures that ensure ongoing operations, maintenance, and revenue collection. The REUCS platform plays a crucial role in this regard, and through this partnership with Mercy Corps, we aim to further enhance our capabilities in sustaining deployed projects.”

Ndubuisi Anyawu, Country Director of Mercy Corps Nigeria, emphasized the transformative potential of the partnership. “Today marks a pivotal moment for Mercy Corps as we formalize our collaboration with REA,” he stated. “This MoU signifies more than a partnership; it represents a shared vision to empower rural communities with access to electricity, thereby catalyzing economic growth and social development. We are committed to supporting REA’s mandate and envision a Nigeria where every community, no matter how remote, has reliable access to electricity for homes, education, healthcare, and overall socio-economic advancement.”

The partnership between REA and Mercy Corps underscores their joint commitment to improving the socio-economic livelihoods of rural communities in Nigeria through expanded access to electricity. By mobilizing communities and strengthening electricity cooperatives, both organizations aim to create sustainable impacts that contribute to Nigeria’s development goals.

As the collaboration progresses, it is expected to pave the way for innovative solutions and community-driven approaches that enhance energy access and foster inclusive growth across Nigeria’s rural landscapes.