Building energy access is no longer just about megawatts; it’s about who captures the value. In a follow-up conversation with REA, we revisited an issue at the heart of Nigeria’s renewable energy future

We shared a strong acknowledgement of the work REA has been doing to build what we described as one of Africa’s most advanced and decentralized energy markets. However, we were also very aligned on a critical issue: today, 80–90% of renewable energy hardware deployed in Nigeria is still imported. This raises real concerns about long-term sustainability, resilience, and value retention.
The conversation moved beyond "whether" localization matters to "how" it can be practically delivered through:

• Local manufacturing
• Skills transfer
• Deliberate market structuring

They made it clear that REA is keen to work with partners who are ready to move this from theory to execution, and we expressed a strong interest in partnering with them to help make that shift happen.
This is the direction we must go if we want renewable energy to not only power communities, but also build industries, create jobs, and anchor long-term economic value here at home.
Nigeria has crossed the installed base, volume, and delivery-readiness thresholds. This is why localization is no longer a future ambition but a present market-design opportunity.
Mente Energy looks forward to working together with REA to turn this shift into practical delivery.