Nigeria’s renewable energy community gathered in Lagos for All On Partnerships for Energy Access’s 10th Anniversary Dinner and Fireside Chat. The event brought together leaders from government, finance institutions, businesses, development organizations, schools, and the renewable energy sector to celebrate a decade of impactful investment. They also discussed the future of energy access in Nigeria.
The evening celebrated ten years of building businesses, strengthening markets, and increasing access to clean and affordable energy through teamwork. Most importantly, it focused on the future, uniting influential voices to discuss how partnerships, new ideas, and long-term funding can help bring energy access to millions more Nigerians.
Biodun Ogunleye, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, represented Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. He congratulated All On on its ten-year journey. He called All On a key player in Nigeria’s renewable energy scene. He praised them for showing that underserved communities can attract sustainable investment. Ogunleye also confirmed Lagos State’s commitment to creating a policy environment that supports innovation, investment, and private sector involvement in the electricity market.
Caroline Eboumbou, Chief Executive Officer of All On, welcomed guests and shared the organization's growth from an ambitious idea into a leading impact investor in Nigeria. She acknowledged the presence of the founding visionary and former Board Chairman, Dr Osagie Okunbor, along with the Board of Directors, investees, partners, government bodies, and communities who helped shape All On’s first ten years.
Eboumbou reflected on the organization’s journey. She mentioned that while funding is important, it takes more than just money to expand energy access.
"We realized very quickly that we needed to be more than just an investor. Building this market required us to combine catalytic capital with technical assistance, venture support, ecosystem development and strategic partnerships. That is how lasting impact is created."
Today, All On's efforts have touched nearly two million lives. This shows what can happen when patient capital is mixed with innovation, entrepreneurship, and long-term teamwork in the renewable energy sector.
A key moment of the evening was a discussion between Eboumbou and Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). They talked about how Nigeria’s off-grid energy sector has changed over the past ten years and the partnerships needed to achieve universal energy access across Africa.
Ogunbiyi reflected on All On’s role in shaping Nigeria’s renewable energy market. She emphasized the need for institutions that build markets, strengthen businesses, and attract investment, rather than just funding individual projects. Both leaders agreed that while progress has been made, the next ten years will need even stronger partnerships, ongoing innovation, and sustained investment to ensure millions more Africans get access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy.
After the discussion, Dalberg presented findings from its independent evaluation of All On’s first decade of work during an Impact Showcase. The report highlighted how All On has expanded energy access through catalytic investment, venture building, enabling finance, and ecosystem development. It also showed measurable improvements in business growth, market development, and opportunities for underserved communities. The showcase stressed the benefits of combining investment with long-term market building.
As the evening continued, a second fireside talk shifted the focus to the future of Nigeria’s renewable energy sector. Abiodun Oni, CEO of FundCo, moderated the panel. It featured Sandra Dozie, CEO of Salpha Energy, and Muhammad Wakil, Country Delivery Lead (Nigeria) for the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). They discussed the opportunities and challenges for Nigeria’s energy transition, highlighting local manufacturing, innovative financing, enabling policy, private sector investment, and strategic collaboration as key drivers for future growth.
The event also had a Special Recognition segment. It celebrated the collaborations that shaped All On’s first decade. Awards of Excellence were given to organizations and individuals whose vision, leadership, and teamwork have strengthened Nigeria’s renewable energy sector. Honourees included The Rockefeller Foundation, Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN), Shell Nigeria, and Dr Osagie Okunbor, Founding Chairman of the All On Board of Directors.
As the evening concluded, All On reaffirmed its commitment to building on its first decade's success. The organization aims to mobilize catalytic capital, strengthen businesses, encourage innovation, and deepen partnerships to speed up access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy for millions more Nigerians. The first decade showed what is possible. The next decade will focus on growing that impact.
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