PRESS RELEASE
NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF REA ASSUME OFFICE
March 14, 2024
Abuja, Nigeria -– His excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appoints new Ag. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and Three (3) Executive Directors for the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on Thursday, 7th March, 2024.
The new leadership includes; Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Ag. Managing Director/CEO, Ayoade Gboyega Executive Director, Corporate Services. Umar Abdullahi Umar, Executive Director, Technical Services and Doris Uboh, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF) while Olufemi Akinyelure takes over as Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.
The new Ag. MD/CEO officially assumed leadership of the Agency on Tuesday, 12th March 14, 2024. He arrived the premises of the Agency in company of all the three new Executive Directors and was received by some of the Directors in the Agency and have since continued to provide guidance to the Agency towards delivering on its mandate of providing electricity access to unserved and underserved areas across the country.
The new Managing Director/CEO previously served as the Head of the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) at the Rural Electrification Agency, overseeing the implementation of a $550 million facility from the World Bank ($350m) and AfDB ($200m). With over 20 years of experience in energy policy and organizational development, he also served as General Manager at the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and as Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Power on Policy. Abba has played pivotal roles in various sectors, including Power, Environment, Banking, Water Resources, Infrastructure, Education, and Health. His leadership resulted in securing approval for the $750m DARES (Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scaleup) facility from the World Bank, building on the success of the NEP before assuming his new role as the MD/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is one of the top performing parastatals under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Power as it has continued to roll out Solar off-grid power solutions and grid extension to millions of unserved and underserved Nigerians. REA has been successful particularly because of critical partnerships with key Government counterparts and both national and international stakeholders as well as the private sector.
The Management and Staff of REA wish to congratulate the new Ag. MD/CEO and Executive Director on their appointment by Mr. President.
ABOUT THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AGENCY
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) under the Federal Ministry of Power tasked with the electrification of unserved and underserved communities to catalyze economic growth and improve quality of life for Nigerians. The Agency was established under part IX, Sections 88- 89 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA), 2005.
The REA is currently implementing the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Capital Projects, Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), Solar Power Naija (SPN), Energizing Education Programme (EEP), Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI), Energizing Agriculture Programme (EAP), Energy for All – Mass Rural Electrification and Research and Innovation Hub. Africa Mini Grids Programme, Derisking Sustainable Off-Grid Lighting Solutions and the Korean Energy Project.
The Agency is responsible for creating an enabling environment for private sector-led projects, which includes conducting feasibility assessments, energy audits, enumeration, data analysis, identification of qualified private sector developers, and project stakeholder engagements.
For enquiries, please contact the Rural Electrification Agency:
info@rea.gov.ng