By Mark Longyen
The ECOWAS Parliament has urged member states to accelerate investment in renewable energy, describing it as the pathway to bolstering rural electrification, economic transformation, and sustainable development across West Africa.
Speaker of the Parliament, Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, made this known at a five-day delocalised meeting of the parliament’s joint committee on energy and electricity on Monday in Dakar, Senegal.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is themed: “Harnessing Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification and Empowerment of Rural Economies in the ECOWAS Region: The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament.”
The meeting focuses on addressing the sub-region’s persistent energy deficit in spite of its vast renewable energy potential, and exploring legislative, financial, and policy measures to expand electricity access to underserved rural communities.
Ibrahima, represented by the Parliament’s Fourth Deputy Speaker, Billay Tunkara, said that renewable energy must go beyond meeting electricity needs and serve as a catalyst for empowering rural economies across the sub-region.
She urged ECOWAS member states to strengthen support for renewable energy initiatives through innovative financing mechanisms, technology transfer, local manufacturing, and legislative oversight to ensure the effective implementation of regional energy policies.
“Together, let us make rural electrification through renewable energy a catalyst for the economic empowerment of women, young people and farmers. Access to clean energy is a fundamental right, a factor in social peace and a driver of sustainable development.
“Renewable energy is not merely a technical response to electricity demand. It is a key driver in transforming economic activities, particularly in rural areas,” she said.
The speaker also lauded Senegal’s President Bassirou Faye’s vision for energy sovereignty, investments in solar energy and diversification of the country’s energy mix, which have expanded electricity access to hundreds of rural households.
MP Fanta Conte, Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Energy, Mines, Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure, said the meeting was convened as a response to the growing imbalance between energy demand and supply within the ECOWAS sub-region.
According to her, inadequate access to electricity affects healthcare delivery, agricultural productivity, education, and income-generating opportunities for millions of rural residents, particularly women and young people.
“Less than 40 per cent of the rural population has access to electricity. In some of our Member States, this rate falls below 10 per cent in the most remote areas.
“Our role is to ensure that commitments made at the regional level, particularly the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy and the Energy Efficiency Action Plan, are effectively transposed into national legislation and, above all, implemented on the ground,” she stated.
She expressed confidence that the five-day deliberations, including a field visit to renewable energy projects in Mboursine village, would produce practical recommendations capable of advancing rural electrification and sustainable development throughout the ECOWAS region.
Also speaking, Head of the Senegal’s Delegation to the Parliament, Guy Sagna, described the theme of the meeting as apt and a call to action for the region to achieve energy sovereignty and accelerate development.
He said that, in spite of ECOWAS’ possession of abundant renewable energy resources, rural electricity access remained extremely low, and emphasised the need for collective efforts to bridge the gap between available resources and their utilisation.
“The figures speak for themselves. In our ECOWAS region, access to electricity for rural households is still capped at around 12 per cent, while our region boasts exceptional solar potential.
“This gap between our resources and their exploitation is a challenge that we must collectively and urgently address.
“Energy independence remains central to tackling poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and underdevelopment across the region,” he added.
NAN also reports that the meeting, which will end on Friday, brought together lawmakers, government officials, energy experts, development partners, and private sector stakeholders(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
