CIGRE WEST AFRICA RECORDS MAJOR MILESTONES, SECURES €88,700 GRANT FOR WOMEN IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
Oru Leonard
The West Africa National Committee of the Conseil International des Grands Réseaux Électriques (CIGRE) has recorded significant achievements in 2026, including securing an €88,700 international grant to promote women’s participation in renewable energy technologies.
The Chairman of the Committee, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, disclosed this while addressing the 7th Session of the General Assembly of CIGRE West Africa National Committee held in Conakry on November 7, 2026.
Abdulaziz said the achievements recorded since the Committee’s last General Assembly in Lomé, Togo, on January 24, 2026, reflected members’ collective commitment to strengthening regional electricity cooperation and advancing technical capacity across West Africa.
He identified the hosting of CIGRE Training Sessions and Study Committee meetings in Dakar, Senegal, in March 2026 as one of the Committee’s major accomplishments.
He also highlighted a collaborative initiative involving VRA Academy and the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), which attracted a grant of €88,700 from the CIGRE Fund for Innovation and Education.
According to him, the project is designed to equip young women with technical skills in solar energy and mini-grid technologies, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in human capital development and the future of the regional electricity industry.
The CIGRE West Africa chairman said the achievements were particularly important as the region prepares for the second phase of the Regional Electricity Market, which seeks to integrate national power systems into a unified regional grid operating at a common frequency.
He, however, identified weak interconnections and limited reserve capacity as persistent challenges confronting the regional power system.
Abdulaziz stressed that capacity building should be treated not merely as a technical necessity but as a strategic investment in electricity system security, improved utility performance and the successful implementation of the Regional Electricity Market.
On the sustainability of the Committee, he recalled resolutions adopted at the January General Assembly in Lomé concerning the establishment of a pooled funding mechanism and a minimum annual operating budget of €213,940.
He urged members to take concrete steps towards implementing the resolutions, noting that sustainable financing was essential to maintaining the Committee’s programmes and ensuring continuity of its activities.
Earlier, the Secretary General of CIGRE West Africa National Committee, Mr. Abdoulaye DIA, described CIGRE, established in 1921, as a leading international platform for knowledge exchange and technical collaboration in power systems.
He disclosed that the global organisation has National Committees in more than 90 countries, with a membership of over 15,000 professionals worldwide.
DIA explained that the West Africa National Committee, officially recognised by CIGRE International in August 2020, provides electricity utilities and industry professionals across the region access to an extensive international knowledge network, technical publications and the expertise of 16 Study Committees.
He encouraged delegates to actively participate in the General Assembly’s deliberations, emphasising the need to strengthen the organisation as a platform for professional development, technical knowledge sharing and the advancement of regional expertise.
The Secretary General noted that these efforts were critical to building the technical capabilities required for the successful development of the Regional Electricity Market.
Established in 2019 by electricity companies affiliated with the West African Power Pool (WAPP), CIGRE West Africa National Committee was officially recognised by CIGRE International in August 2020.
Its mandate includes promoting knowledge exchange, strengthening technical capacity and showcasing West African expertise in power systems.
The recognition also provides members with opportunities for representation and voting within CIGRE, nomination of experts to technical committees, access to specialised publications and technical documents, participation in calls for papers and access to relevant funding opportunities.
The 7th General Assembly brought together electricity sector experts and professionals from across West Africa and beyond to exchange knowledge, share experiences and strengthen professional networks towards the development of a more integrated, reliable and technically advanced regional electricity system.
