22 March 2011: The Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC), in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility Small Grant Programme (GEF SGP), the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) and the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), is implementing a project titled “Access to Electricity in Odighi Community in Edo State using Photo Voltaic” in Nigeria.

The project aims to: increase access to electricity in Odighi Community by using solar generators; build capacity in the community to install and maintain solar systems; and create awareness in Edo State on the potential for renewable energy technologies to address the energy crisis in Nigeria and mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

The project is expected to benefit a total of 40 households with electricity by using solar generators. In addition, an inception workshop was held on 22 March 2011, in Benin City, Nigeria, which attracted over 140 participants, with the aim to build awareness on the potential for renewable energy technologies and to train the first set of community members on installation and maintenance of solar systems. The European Commission’s Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign has endorsed the project as an official partner. [CREDC Website] [IISD RS Sources]