Less than a month after her sack by the honourable minister of power, Sale Mammam, the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA),MrsDamilolaOgunbiyi has been appointed Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General AntónioGuterres.
On January 1st, 2020, Ogunbiyi released a video-statement, announcing her resumption and vision for her new appointment and efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG7) in its last decade. MrsOgunbiyi succeeds Rachel Kyte of the United Kingdom as Special Representative, Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy, and CEO of SEforALL.
During her time at REA, she was responsible for implementing the Nigerian Off-Grid Electrification Programme and successfully negotiating the Nigerian Electrification Project, to rapidly construct solar mini-grids and deploy solar home systems across Nigeria.
She also developed the Energizing Economies Initiative and Energizing Education Programme, which provides sustainable and affordable off-grid power solutions. Before joining the Federal Government of Nigeria, MrsOgunbiyi was the first woman to be appointed as the General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board, which is responsible for public lighting, independent power projects, and energy development serving millions of people across the State.
Prior to this, she consulted for the United Kingdom Department for International Development on public-private partnerships. Her appointment comes as the world is about to enter the final decade to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
