Solar Lighting for the Transformation of Rural Nigeria

Opening Address by
His Excellency, Ambassador Dozie Nwanna (OON)
Ag. Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

at the Solar Jooce 70s Dinner-Dance & Fundraising Night

Chelsea Old Town HALL
ROYAL Borough of Kensingto & Chelsea
London SW3 5EE

Ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to Solar Jocce’s 70s Fundraising event, dedicated to providing Solar-for-

the-Masses in Nigeria. I am proud to be part of an event where distinguished
Nigerians have stepped forward to support what can be called “the next Green
Revolution”.

Before I go into the various ways that solar can transform rural communities, let me
share a few eye-opening facts with you.

Facts
1: Currently, 2 billion people in the world have no access to electricity.

2: The energy from the sun that hits the earth is 10,000 times the energy consumption
of humans. Therefore, sun energy represents a huge potential for solving electricity
problems.

3: Africa, Nigeria inclusive, is awash with sunshine all year round. The continent’s
tropical climate makes solar energy the most viable alternative source of clean,
renewable energy. Harnessing the sun's energy to produce power is an imperative for
rural areas where the hope of being connected to the national grid is very remote
and extremely expensive.

4: Lack of access to affordable electricity is a major cause of poverty in rural areas in

Africa, Nigeria inclusive.

5: A poor family in Africa burns around 55 litres of kerosene a year to light their home.
Respiratory diseases caused by toxic kerosene smoke kill 1.6 million women and
children each year. That is one death every 20 seconds. Kerosene fumes also
damage the eyes and the environment (CO2 emissions).

6: The average kerosene lantern, used widely across the developing world, creates
around a tonne of carbon pollution over seven years.

7: Because of poor road access, the cost of kerosene is much higher in the rural
areas. Replacing kerosene with solar energy will increase savings and reduce the
cycle of poverty.

8: Excessive use of firewood without deliberate/continuous tree-planting, contributes

to environmental degradation, air pollution, desert encroachment, and poor rains
which, in 2007, led to about a 25% drop in food production In Nigeria. Climate
change undermines any effort to combat poverty.

These facts show that the time has come for solar energy to be a big game changer
for rural communities. Gaining access to electricity can transform lives radically in
some of the following ways:

1: Better education. With basic solar home kits, students and pupils are able to study in
the evenings at home, and make better grades in school. Solar power enables
schools use basic computers, which open up students to the world. Solar-powered
classrooms can also be used after dark for evening adult education classes.

2: Improved healthcare. Solar-powered fridges ensure that rural clinics are able to
store medicines and vaccines. Solar-powered sterilising units help prevent infections
from contaminated instruments. A solar lit clinic means doctors are able to attend to
patients safely and efficiently after dark. Rural health clinics are finding that after
replacing dim kerosene lamps with brighter solar lights, more women come to the
clinics to give birth. The incidence of eye disease is far reduced when hurricane
lanterns are replaced by basic solar light for reading.

3: Economic empowerment. Even with a small solar light, micro-businesses can stay
open for longer hours in the evenings, and increase productivity or sales.

A rural dweller can start a bar business, and acquire a solar panel via microfinance or
family contributions to power lights and a television, thereby attracting more
customers and increasing his trade. On the day of a football match, the bar owner is
able to levy a ‘pay-per-view’ charge.

2
Access to electricity can give the rural barber the opportunity to trade in his scissors
for electric clippers, increasing his productivity and his profits.

Very significantly, the Barefoot College in India has shown that rural and uneducated
women can be trained to manufacture basic solar appliances which can be sold to
earn significant income.

4: Improved communication. A large area of Nigeria now has mobile coverage but
many rural people either have no way of charging phones or have to go 10 or 20
kilometres to a charging station in town.

For those who have solar chargers, it can change their lives. Midwives and clinic
heads are able to keep in touch with their patients in times of an emergency and
vice-versa. Those in the cities can now use their mobile phones to send money to
relatives in rural areas. Farmers can call the city to get the best prices for their
produce.

5: Food Security. Food security is one of the United Nations’ Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). Measures being put in place by the Federal Government of Nigeria
include the revitalisation of the Agricultural sector, and finding a way to overcome
the lack of water and agricultural produce that condemns certain rural areas to an
endless cycle of poverty and poor health, especially during a lengthy dry season.

During an extended dry season, the land becomes parched and the people, hungry.
Malnutrition is widespread, as evidenced by the many children walking around with
protruding bellies, which is a telltale sign of Kwashiorkor, a condition caused by a lack
of protein and micronutrients.

The installation of a Solar Irrigation system would change this scenario completely.

Professor Dov Pasternak, a leading drip irrigation expert, has developed what he
refers to as the “Africa Market Garden” – a low-pressure, solar powered, drip irrigation
system that brings to the poor farmers of Africa all the advantages of drip irrigation at
a fraction of the cost.

Pasternak’s drip irrigation system – which ensures accurate and equal distribution of
water in the field, no wetting of leaves and soil, and application of fertiliser with the
water - is a simple but highly effective method of growing high-value fruits and
vegetables on small plots of extremely dry land.

3
So, not only does the “Africa Market Garden” concept improve nutrition, but enough
cash-crops are produced for women to sell in the local markets. This leads to a rise in
income levels - income which will help pay for school fees, medical treatment, and
overall economic development.

Conclusion
A solar system, with no consumables and quick set-up, is clearly ideal for creating a
renewable energy revolution at the grassroots.

While much remains to be done, we have gotten off to a promising start in Nigeria
with the likes of Solar Jooce, which was recognised by CNN during Nigeria’s 50th
anniversary as being a champion for rural electrification.

What is particularly exciting about solar energy is the fact that under the umbrella of
one solar project, rural communities can simultaneously combat climate change,
improve food security, supply clean water, alleviate poverty, and empower women.
And these projects are sustainable.

In May 2010, Solar Jooce did an incredible 9,600km drive across 36 states of Nigeria
to deliver solar power to communities in every state. And they are about to set off on
yet another expedition this year.

Similarly, on the other side of the world, in Manila, the Philippines, three motorcycle
enthusiasts embarked on a 19-day, 6,600 km motorcycle tour last month (April 16).
The expedition was tagged “Ride for Light 2011” and its objective was to provide
portable solar systems in 40 rural communities.

All of this shows that the solar movement is gaining momentum globally as it rightly
should. With a substantial part of Nigeria still without access to modern energy
services, I encourage everyone here tonight to think and act boldly – to think Solar-
for-the-Nigerian-Masses… and help in creating islands of light across rural Nigeria.

Thank you. God bless Nigeria.