The United Nations (UN) Secretary General, António Guterres, has announced the appointment of the Managing Director (MD) of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and his Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, succeeding Rachel Kyte of the United Kingdom (UK). Guterres expressed gratitude to Ms. Kyte for her dedication and commitment to the UN and her achievements in accelerating universal energy access.
In a statement, the UN said Ogunbiyi brings extensive leadership experience and a track record of supporting energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa to the roles.
She is the first woman to be appointed as MD of REA and has been implementing the Nigerian Off-Grid Electrification Programme.
She also led the Nigerian Electrification Project to rapidly construct solar mini-grids and deploy solar home systems across Nigeria.
Ogunbiyi also developed the Energising Economics Initiative and Energising Education Programme which provide sustainable and affordable off-grid power solutions.
Before joining the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ogunbiyi was the first woman to be appointed as the General Manager (GM) of the Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB), which is responsible for public lighting and independent power projects.
She had consulted for the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DfID) on Public-Private Partnership (PPP), and is one of the Commissioners for the Global Commission to End Energy Poverty.
The world targets the last decade to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 – Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
SEforALL is an international organisation, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, that is dedicated to helping the world achieve SDG7 and Paris Agreement targets.
On the appointment, Ogunbiyi said, “I’m proud to join the team and continue to focus our effort on closing energy access gaps, showing that a clean energy transition is possible, and working to give everyone the opportunity of a prosperous, dignified and healthy life.”
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