A major international effort is underway to expand electricity access in Africa, with a strong focus on Nigeria, where about 17.5 million people are set to benefit from a new clean energy program. The initiative, known as the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project, is supported by a $750 million credit from the World Bank through its International Development Association.
The project aims to tackle one of Africa’s biggest challenges—limited access to reliable electricity. In Nigeria, over 85 million people still do not have access to the national grid. Even those connected often experience frequent power cuts, forcing households and businesses to depend on costly and polluting diesel generators. The DARES project plans to reduce this dependence by promoting cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
Instead of focusing only on large, centralized power plants, the project emphasizes distributed energy systems. These include solar mini-grids that can supply electricity to entire villages and standalone solar home systems for individual households. Such solutions are easier and faster to install, especially in remote and rural areas where extending the traditional grid is difficult and expensive.
The program is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy. More than 200,000 small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria are likely to benefit from improved access to reliable electricity. With a consistent power supply, these businesses can operate for longer hours, improve productivity, and adopt modern equipment. This is expected to create new job opportunities and support economic growth in underserved regions.
The initiative also focuses on social inclusion. It includes specific measures to support female-headed households and women-led businesses, ensuring that the benefits of electrification reach vulnerable groups. Access to electricity can improve living conditions, enhance education, and support healthcare services in rural communities.
The DARES project is part of a broader program called Mission 300, a joint initiative of the World Bank and the African Development Bank. Mission 300 aims to provide electricity to 300 million people across Africa by 2030.
By encouraging private sector participation and strong coordination between governments and financial institutions, the initiative aims to show that renewable energy can play a key role in reducing poverty and driving development. For millions of people in Nigeria, this effort represents a step toward reliable power and improved quality of life.
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