11th August, 2017
The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) is set to train renewable energy entrepreneurs to promote electricity generation through renewable energy sources in the sub-region.
A statement by ECREEE on Friday said that 17 solar photovoltaic entrepreneurs from English-speaking member states of the sub-region would be trained renewable energy.
The training, which would be held in Abuja from Aug. 14 to Aug. 18, would focus on how the entrepreneurs could develop project proposals, marketing strategies and access finances to expand the solar energy market.
The training would also promote small and medium enterprises in the sub-region.
The training, which is in partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), would be conducted under a project called Promoting a Sustainable Market for Photovoltaic Systems in the ECOWAS Region (ProSPER).
ProSPER supports the promotion and sustenance of solar electricity generation and the solar energy market in the sub-region.
The programme was also aimed at strengthening the capacities of stakeholders in the renewable energy sector to promote the use of renewable energy sources, particularly solar.
The ECOWAS Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Support Facility, a sub component of ProSPER, was designed to assist entrepreneurs improve their business operations.
It also provides mentorship and technical support to existing entrepreneurs.
The facility was further developed to review and refine project proposals that could be financially supported by banks.
A similar training was held from Aug. 7 to Aug. 11 in Dakar, Senegal for 29 participants from French and Portuguese speaking member states of the sub-region.
Other partners supporting the training are the Centre for Renewable Energy and Industrial Maintenance and the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering.