A new stakeholders’ forum has been established to drive green policies and support Nigeria’s informal economy, aiming for more inclusive economic growth. The initiative is a result of collaboration between researchers from De Montfort University in the UK and the University of Lagos.
Dr. Eghosa Igudia, the principal investigator of the research leading to the forum’s creation, highlighted that Nigeria, despite being a signatory to the 2015 global climate agreement, still lacks sufficient regulation in its renewable energy sector. He linked Nigeria’s current inflation and the impact of fuel subsidy removal to findings from surveys and interviews conducted in Lagos in April 2024. These studies, carried out in major solar panel and inverter sales hubs such as Arena Market in Oshodi, Alaba International Market, and Ikeja Computer Village, emphasized the need for structured engagement between stakeholders.
According to Igudia, the newly established Renewable Energy Stakeholders’ Forum will serve as a platform for co-developing regulations and creating a conducive environment for renewable energy expansion in Nigeria. Participants at a recent meeting at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Ikeja proposed a hybrid format for future meetings to ensure better communication between informal renewable energy businesses and policymakers. Research findings indicate that many of these businesses have little awareness of existing green policies and climate change initiatives.
The initiative stems from a year-long collaboration between De Montfort University and the University of Lagos, with a focus on stakeholder involvement in policymaking. Lagos currently lacks a ministry dedicated exclusively to renewable energy, but the new forum is expected to bring together key players, including renewable energy practitioners, industry users, academics, and members of the public. Their goal is to push for greater recognition of renewable energy as a viable alternative power source for Nigeria.
In addition to the renewable energy forum, the research team has also launched the Stakeholders’ Forum for Inclusive Policy in the Informal Economy. This initiative builds on over a decade of research and collaboration between De Montfort University, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lagos, and the Federation of Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria, with recent engagement from the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.
The forum aims to bridge the gap between informal sector workers, such as street vendors and motorcycle operators, and the government. It emerged from a British Academy-funded research project titled “Inclusive Poverty Reduction: In Search of a Policy Framework to Support Individuals Operating in the Informal Economy in Lagos, Nigeria.”
According to Igudia, this new platform will allow policies to be co-created through meaningful consultations with stakeholders. The goal is to ensure that regulations governing the informal economy reflect the realities of those affected.
Both forums seek to enhance policymaking by incorporating insights from those directly impacted by regulatory decisions. By fostering collaboration and dialogue, stakeholders hope to develop inclusive policies that support economic growth and sustainability in Lagos and across Nigeria.
