The Chief Executive of SMEFUNDS, Dr. Femi Oye, has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and the private sector to drive solar-powered agricultural projects in Nigeria. His appeal follows the launch of the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project by the International Water Management Institute in Ethiopia and Kenya, which he views as a model for transforming food systems in Nigeria.
The SoLAR initiative, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, goes beyond solar-powered irrigation to introduce an integrated suite of solar technologies, including cold storage, dryers, milling, and agro-processing equipment. The approach aims to help farmers lower production costs, reduce post-harvest losses, and create additional income streams. Dr. Oye described the project as a blueprint Nigeria can replicate, noting, “We have the sun, we have the need, and the technology is proven. It is time for our government to create the incentives and for the private sector to step up with investment to power our farmlands.”
The initiative addresses challenges common to both East Africa and Nigeria, such as underutilized irrigation potential and inefficiencies in small-scale farming. In Kenya, only a small fraction of the 3.3 million acres suitable for irrigation is currently cultivated, while Ethiopia faces rising demand and inefficiencies in its irrigation systems. Inga Jacobs-Mata, IWMI’s Strategic Program Director of Water, Growth and Inclusion, emphasized that solar energy can make food systems more sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient. The project is also generating data to guide policy, financing, and investment decisions, ensuring equitable access for women, youth, and disadvantaged groups.
Dr. Oye stressed that Nigeria must act quickly to replicate these successes, pointing to the importance of coordinated public policy, private financing, and farmer training. He highlighted the need to utilize millions of hectares currently left underutilized due to a lack of efficient energy for irrigation and post-harvest management. “The partnership between public policy, private finance, and farmer training is the key to food security,” he said, adding that a ‘living labs’ approach, where farmers and partners test and refine solar innovations tailored to local conditions, could help Nigeria build a climate-smart, productive, and financially sustainable agricultural sector.
By adopting strategies proven in East Africa, Dr. Oye believes Nigeria can harness its solar potential to boost productivity, create jobs, and strengthen food security while supporting a transition to climate-resilient agriculture.
