ECREEE Concludes Landmark Regional Training-of-Trainers To Boost Clean Energy Mini-Grids Uptake In West Africa
By Bukar BOLORI
The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) has successfully concluded a high-level Regional Training-of-TrainersWorkshop on the Design, Installation, and Inspection of Clean Energy Mini-Grids.
The two-week intensive programme, held from October 20 to 31, 2025, at the ESMER Academy in Allada, Benin, marks a significant stride in building a sustainable clean energy workforce across West Africa.
The workshop is a pivotal component of the Desert-to-Power West Africa Regional Energy Program (DtP-WAREP) Phase 1, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). It directly supports the operationalization of Level 2 of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Skills Certification Scheme, a key initiative to ensure quality and standardization in the region’s growing renewable energy sector.
In his closing address, Mr. Gibson Obasi, Ag. Executive Director of ECREEE emphasized the critical importance of the initiative.
“This two-week training is a major milestone in the process of operationalizing our Certification System,” he stated.
“We are confident that the trained expertswill be able to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in their countries. This calls for continuous commitment at the individual and corporate levels to ensure sustainability.”
The workshop brought together 24 expert trainers from eight ECREEE partner Training and Examination Centers across the ECOWAS region.
The curriculum, developed by the Renewables Academy (RENAC) and validated by regional experts, provided a robust blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on, practical exercises and field visits.
This approach equipped participantswith the advanced technical and pedagogical skills needed to effectively train a new generation of clean energy professionals in their home countries.
Mr. Felix EBO, Director General of ESMER Academy, and Mr. Salem KADI, representing RENAC, also delivered remarks during the ceremony, underscoring the power of collaboration in achieving the programme’s objectives.
The successful training of these trainers is expected to create a multiplier effect. Upon returning to their institutions, they will lead national-level training and examinations for other sector experts, project developers, and technicians, directly contributing to building a skilled local workforce capable of designing, installing, and inspecting reliable, clean-energy mini-grids.
Qualified designers, installers, and inspectors will be certified by ECREEE and will be capable of working in any ECOWAS Member State. This is crucial for accelerating energy access, particularly in rural and underserved areas of the ECOWAS region.
