In a world ravaged by worsening climate change, it is easy to assume that the path to a sustainable future will be built on technical prowess and massive infrastructure.
In Nigeria’s rural communities, the path to a sustainable future is led not by machines or megawatts. At the forefront of this revolution are women, disrupting traditional roles, challenging conventions, and reshaping the country’s energy future through the power of solar technology.
Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria faces a profound energy crisis. Over 85 million people– roughly 43% of the population– live without access to electricity, with the majority in rural areas. This energy gap fuels a cycle of poverty, leaving women to bear the brunt.
Most of them by cook with firewood and kerosene, manage households in the dark, and struggle to access healthcare or education for their children.
Solar Sister, a social enterprise, is filling the gap, delivering not only renewable energy but also economic liberation to hundreds of women.
Founded in 2009, Solar Sister operates in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda, where it raises women into entrepreneurs. The women are equipped with solar lanterns, clean cookstoves, and other environmentally friendly products, which they trade within their communities.
This approach not only brings life-saving technology to those who need it most but also creates a steady source of income for the women.
Olamide Folorunsho, a representative for Solar Sister Nigeria, highlights the transformative power of this approach.
“We found that women are not only more affected by energy poverty; they are also the most powerful drivers of community-level change. By empowering them, we’re doing more than lighting up homes, we’re lighting up lives.”
The impact of this model is captured in the story of Mary Dauda, a single mother of four in Bauchi State.
“I struggled a lot before this to survive. Raising my children alone, having been abandoned by my husband, I laboured on my small farm just to feed the children,” explains Mary, who is now a dealer in solar lanterns and gadgets. “The money I make helps me send my children to school and support my family.”
Mary’s pride reflects a broader truth. Solar Sister’s grassroots model is succeeding where many traditional energy projects have failed. Rather than relying on energy installers or one-time donations, it invests in women and their capacity to lead.
This approach builds trust, cultural sensitivity, and long-term effects for every solar transaction.
Impact beyond numbers
Since its inception, Solar Sister has trained over 9,400 women entrepreneurs and provided clean energy access to over 4.3 million people across Africa. These efforts have eliminated more than 1.3 million metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions and replaced toxic kerosene lanterns and smoky stoves with clean, safe alternatives.
The health benefits are particularly profound. According to the World Health Organisation, indoor air pollution from traditional cooking fuels contributes to more than 93,000 deaths in Nigeria each year.
Clean cookstoves reduce exposure to harmful smoke, improving respiratory health especially for women and young children who spend much of their time indoors.
In rural clinics, solar-powered lights enable nighttime deliveries and emergency care, while allowing children to study effectively after dark.
In 2023, the organisation won the prestigious Renewable Transformation Challenge, securing €20,000 to expand its mission. Their plan is ambitious: empower 30,000 more women, reach 30 million more people, and offset another 3 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030.
This progress skates over a variety of obstacles, however. Cultural perceptions about women in business, especially in rural areas, can slow progress. Access to finance, logistics for product delivery, and climate unpredictability also pose hurdles.
But these women–trained, resilient, and supported–are proving that with the right tools and networks, no obstacle is insurmountable.
As Nigeria advances in its energy transition, integrating women into the renewable energy sector will be crucial for achieving inclusive and lasting progress. In the hands of women like Mary Dauda, the promise of renewable energy is not a fantasy, but a tangible, burning flame of hope.
In Nigeria, women are leading the charge to reshape the energy future, not through major infrastructure, but with solar technology, addressing the country's severe energy crisis that leaves over 43% of the population, particularly in rural areas, without electricity. Solar Sister, a social enterprise founded in 2009, empowers women in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda by turning them into entrepreneurs through the sale of solar lanterns and clean cookstoves. This model provides these women with a sustainable income and equips communities with life-saving technology, reducing poverty cycles and improving living conditions.
The impact of Solar Sister is profound, having trained over 9,400 women entrepreneurs and improved access to clean energy for over 4.3 million people in Africa. By replacing hazardous kerosene lamps and smoky stoves with clean alternatives, they've eliminated more than 1.3 million metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions and markedly improved health conditions, reducing indoor air pollution–a significant cause of death. Solar solutions also enhance education, with solar-powered lights enabling continuous learning after dark.
Despite challenges such as cultural perceptions, financial access, and logistic issues, Solar Sister's model demonstrates that empowering women is vital for sustainable energy transition. By 2030, the organization plans to empower 30,000 additional women and reach 30 million more people while securing major reductions in carbon emissions. Women like Mary Dauda exemplify how renewable energy is transforming lives at the grassroots level, highlighting the critical role of women in energy inclusion and long-term progress.
