Nigeria (1)

SOLAR UP NIGERIA (SUN) – SEE UPDATED PAGE HERE

Solar UP Nigeria (SUN) is established to train, groom and mentor young Nigerians including women to become solar entrepreneurs and providers of affordable clean electricity. This trained group will additionally serve as a competent pool of workforce for the renewable energy industry. This action will reduce dependency of fossil fuel thereby combating climate change, create employment for the unemployed, improve access to electricity and ultimately boost Nigeria’s economic growth.

WE CREATED A PRODUCT TO ENGAGE OUR TRAINEES ECONOMICALLY. – A SOLAR BARBING SYSTEM. READ ABOUT IT HERE

OBJECTIVES

To conduct an annual training of young Nigerians across the six Geo-political zones between the ages of 20-35 years on 1). Solar PV Design and Installation and Solar PV Entrepreneurship which would empower them to be Solar entrepreneurs.
Beneficiaries of SUN are added to the Green Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (The alumni group) where they automatically benefit from the Growth Support Plan , our action program established to support trained alumni to become established.
To host the Green Entrepreneurs Summit/Expo
To conduct projects that will boost communities access to affordable clean energy
To provide internship. mentorship and job opportunities for trained alumni

PROJECT DESCRIPTION ; To promote the use of cleaner energy and create employment Glow Initiative for Economic Empowerment introduces Solar Up Nigeria (SUN) on several value chains of Solar Technology to build Solar entrepreneurs. As a follow up mechanism and to monitor progress, we have created The Green Entrepreneurs Alumni Association and The Growth Support Plan to give them a platform to network, exchange knowledge, market their skills receive advisory and professional mentorship for their business. We will host an annual Green Entrepreneurs Summit/Expo to exhibit the products, services and highlight the success of our beneficiaries.

ACTIVITIES

TRAINING: We would partner with the private sector and energy institutions to conduct the two-week training on Solar PV Design, Installation and Entrepreneurship. A call for applications after which qualified applicants would be selected to participate. The trainings is planned build the capacity of the participants in the six (6) major Solar Energy value chains such as Designing/Developing, Production, Installation Engineers, Marketers and Distributors etc. As an outcome they might; Design and size up systems and sell to manufacturers, Pay for it to be manufactured for them, Produce themselves, Supply electricity through micro grids, Distribute solar solutions, Provide installation and maintenance services.

SEE THE COURSE TRAINING CURRICULUM

SEE THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE COURSE

At our last training

PITCH COMPETITION AND GRADUATION; during the last week of the training we would organize a pitch competition where participants will pitch their ideas and present their designs to investors and professionals in the solar energy fields. We hope to work with the federal government through the Ministry of environment and ministry of Power to provide startup capital for the graduates. We plan to work with General Electric and African Sustainable Energy Association to provide internship opportunities to the beneficiaries. The graduates would receive their certificate of completion.

ESTABLISH GREEN ENTREPRENEURS ASSOCIATION Of Nigeria (GEAN) and Growth Support Plan

As a follow up mechanism, we have created the Green Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria for the solar entrepreneurs with the aim of engaging the beneficiaries, monitor progress, ensure sustainability. They could meet at agreed periods of the year to discuss progress, challenges, opportunities in the sector, recent trends and way forward.

GREEN ENTREPRENEURS SUMMIT AND EXPO

We would work with our partners and the Green Entrepreneurs Association to host an annual Green Entrepreneurs Expo. This would create a platform for all the Association members from different Geo-political zones to meet and network, exchange knowledge and market their skills. We would use the opportunity to exhibit the products, services and highlight the success of our beneficiaries.

SEE OUR IMPACT

We have trained a total of 150 students since start. Through the Growth Support Plan, twenty-five (25) members
of our alumni have established their clean energy businesses through which they are providing access to
electricity, creating green jobs and 20 recruited in solar jobs. Through the several businesses started by
the alumni, they have provided solar power electricity of over 5, 000 KVA for 1053 homes and
businesses helping to offset 60, 000 Tonne of the dangerous #C02. They have employed at least 50 new
employees.

The Growth Support Plan

To ensure that trainees hone their acquired skill, we have established the Growth Support Plan, an after support platform for the graduates at no extra cost. Through the GSP, they receive constant support, internship opportunities, on-site engagements, opportunities for grants, fellowships, access to expert coaching to qualify for grants and advisory from professionals to help them start and grow their businesses and be employable in a solar company.

Read more about the Growth Support Plan.

Work with US

Partner with us today

YOU CAN DO THAT BY;

1.) Providing scholarships by purchasing slots to enable us train and mentor more entrepreneurs in Nigerians especially women in the value chain of Renewable Energy.

2) Sponsor young people in your community to get trained and empowered with this skill.

3) Provide training equipment for us.

4) Pay for your employees to be trained by us.

5) Provide employment slots in your company for our trained alumni

SEE full list of courses HERE

Call 07018833484 and EMAIL us at admin@glowinitiative.org to partner with the SUN initiative

OUR IMPACT

IN THE PIPELINE

CONSTRUCTION OF BORE-HOLE AND INSTALLATION OF SOLAR STREET LIGHTS AT BARBWIRE COMMUNITY

The barbwire community is also known as Kpako community (Kpako means wood, and it got this name because all houses are one room space built with wood and covered with tapolin to keep out rain. Houses accommodate up to 6 persons on the average) The community residents are displaced people who relocated from Kuramo beach. It also largely includes persons who cannot afford to rent a house but could afford to purchase wood. The community members are largely poor. They lack access to clean drinking water. The entire 2,500 residents depend on only 4 shallow wells whose water is dirty for drinking. The residents especially children suffer severely from water-borne diesases such as Cholera and typhoid. The community also lack access to electricity. On a daily basis crimes such as theft and rape occur at night in the streets due to pitch darkness. Before I went for my research, I was warned by a member of the community not to go to the community alone as I may be robbed, he insisted I went with him to escort me. The project seeks to address the above problems by providing installing 50 solar street lights to provide lights in the streets at night thereby reducing crime rate.

This project will install portable solar street lights to be mounted by wooden poles and provide light for the community members at night. This will reduce the rate of crime that occur in the community at nights. It will foster community and well-beign as one solar light will be installed in the community square to provide a central gathering space for relaxation where children can also study.

It will be managed by the project team members of Solar UP Nigeria and the vendor who will have their project team on ground to ensure smooth operation.

The provision of solar street lights will eliminate darkness at nights thereby reducing the rate of crime on-going in the community as dark areas which aid crime will now be lighted. The street lights will also foster community amongst the residents and provide a sense of belonging and oneness and they can gather at the solar light center in the evenings. It will also improve the reading culture of the kids as they now have a bright light to study at night with.

Residents will save money as the frequency of petrol usage for generator will be reduced. In all, This project will promote good health and well-being, foster peace and security. The community’s general standard of living will be improved and the people and community as a whole make and save more money.

The people are mostly traders. The women buy and sell petty items, such as provisions. Some others cook and sell food stuff and already prepared food. Some of the men work as security guards in the city. Others are involved in the transportation sector, they drive motorcycle commercially (popularly known as Okada), Tricycle (Popularly known as Keke Marwa) and trucks (for companies).

Socially, They engage in soccer games where teams come out to play and others watch. There is also a local beer bar where people gather in the evenings to relax. They have a women’s food sharing end of year activity. During the end of year they engage in soccer competitions where different teams compete and win a prize.

READ ABOUT FULL PROJECT HERE:

Barbwire Community Bore-hole and Solar Street Lights Installation

HELP US SAVE BARBWIRE

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Glow Initiative for Economic Empowerment

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