Training seminar held in Nigeria for solar standards enforcement

The ECOWAS Commission, in association with the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), held a seminar from April 14 to 15, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria. The event, organized in collaboration with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the Federal Ministry of Energy, aimed at training Nigerian experts on the application of harmonized regional standards for off-grid solar photovoltaic products up to 350 Watts.

The seminar's primary purpose was to ensure that the standards adopted for off-grid solar products are well understood and implemented by national authorities and stakeholders. Participants included experts from SON, the Federal Ministry of Power, the Federal Ministry of Industry, the Rural Electrification Agency, the Energy Commission, the Custom Office, and consumer organizations.

In July 2023, the ECOWAS Council of Ministers approved two regional standards under Regulation C/REG.12/07/23. These are:

"ECOSTAND IEC TS 62257-9-8:2020: Renewable energy systems and hybrid systems for rural electrification – Part 9-8: Integrated systems and;
ECOSTAND IEC TS 62257-9-5:2018: Recommendations for renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification – Part 9-5;"

Following the ministers' recommendations, ROGEAP has supported the enforcement of these standards in eight countries. During the seminar, Nigeria received technical assistance from ROGEAP to effectively enforce these standards for off-grid solar products.

Upon completing the training, participants' skills are expected to be enhanced, enabling them to act as advocates in public and lead enforcement campaigns within communities.

The goal is to establish a quality and assurance framework for off-grid solar products in the region, with the aim of eliminating poor-quality solar PV products from the market and protecting consumers.

ROGEAP is funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS), with implementation by the ECOWAS Commission for Component 1, which focuses on developing a regional off-grid solar market.