Lagos to host renewable energy forum for Africa, (REFA) November, 25th-26th, 2026.

Lagos is now set to host one of the biggest renewable energy forum in Africa come November, 25th to 26th when critical stakeholders in the solar energy space are expected to gather at the raddison blu hotel to set new pathways for investment in the renewable energy space.

Benjamin Clarke, who is director of operations, Africa solar industry association, AFSIA. disclosed this in Lagos on thursday during a press briefing with energy correspondents, publishers and editors to highlight expectations in the coming forum which will hold in Lagos state.

Clarke who acknowledged the critical role being played by the rural electrification agency, REA. has the official partner to AFSIA said the renewable energy forum for Africa, REFA has moved round other africa countries, Nairobi, capetown, accra before bathing this time around in Nigeria, and specifically, Lagos. Speaking on the idea behind REFA, Clarke noted that bringing together investors and projects within the renewable energy space in one room to discuss investments and set agenda for renewable energy practioners is one of the driving motives behind the forum. He also noted that bringing participants up to speed with trends in the sector is another big idea behind the forum to enable participants adapt to the growing changes within the renewable energy environment.

Also speaking on the big picture why the 2026 edition of the renewable energy forum for Africa is holding in Nigeria, the director of operations at AFSIA said Africa’s renewable energy has more than doubled in the last ten years, he noted that in 2016 the continent’s solar energy capacity stood at 37gigawatts with that number climbing to about 82gigawatts by the year 2025, according to him findings also shows that at the centre of this growth, Nigeria occupies a strategic position, as the country tops other African countries in solar energy penetration with 620megawatts of capacity, with senegal coming behind in the second position with about 425megawatt capacity.”Nigeria has about a quater of solar energy use in top 10 countries in west africa” Clarke said.

Acknowledging Nigeria’s strategic role in deepening solar energy penetration, Clarke said in 2026 alone the country already have 89 megawatts of capacity with another 115 megawatts under construction.
“The national grid falls far short of what Nigeria needs, so in many cases, is self reliance on diesel generators to backup power, and that’s the big reason solar is taking-off” he further stressed.

On who is expected to attend the forum in November, Benjamin Clarke said critical stakeholders which include investors, project developers, regulatory authorities, and big solar energy companies would be ground for the two day forum. The director of operations at AFSIA also commended Lagos state for taking the first step to create it’s electricity market declaring that the choice of the state to host the forum is also strategic as participants are expected to connect with the right people that matters in the renewable energy environment where they are also expected to turn opportunities to sign deals.

Other speakers who attended the pre-event press briefing include Esther Eyenobong, who is senior sales manager, west africa, Jinko solar, Ruth Iye Ifah, sales manager, JA, Taiwo Adewale, business development manager, Nigeria, AIKO Energy, Ololade Raji, technical services manager, AlphaESS, and Olamide Niyi-Afuye, CEO, africa mini-grid developers association (AMDA)