Total Nigeria is partnering with Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), an indigenous non-profit Organization dedicated to the socio-economic development of Africa to manage the development and technical support of Awango Resellers Club (ARC) in the Northern Region of Nigeria.
The oil giant says that women who have been identified as string peer influencers, young graduates, especially those posted to remote Northern Nigerian states to serve under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and trusted Community leaders have been earmarked for membership of the Awango Resellers Club (ARC), will stand to benefit from the programme.
120 start-up members are targeted to benefit from the initiative in 2016. According to the terms of the partnership, MMF will be responsible for conducting entrepreneurship training for members while product knowledge training will be conducted by the Solar Services team of Total Nigeria Plc.
“The objective of the project is to empower the people in isolated areas in need of special intervention using Solar technologies.
“It is part of the implementation of its Last Mile strategy designed to create awareness and create sustainable distribution channel to isolated areas where the core target market for Awango by Total resides,” states the statement on the company’s website.
This projected will be supported by the £100,000 solar grant awarded by the Solar Nigeria Programme, an initiative of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Department (DFID).
The grant was designed to scale up markets for Solar systems in Northern Nigeria. Selection for this award was based on credibility of the solar marketing strategic plan and demonstration of viable solar business models.
Receipt of full installment of grant payment is however based on adequate implementation of marketing plans proposed.
Total Nigeria had effectively shown execution of plans including setting up of Awango Resellers Club, provision of translated marketing materials, etc. As a result, Total Nigeria received full installments of grant cumulatively amounting to £100,000.
The company had introduced its Awango solar solution to become the everyday energy partner of communities they serve and improve living standards of people without reliable access to energy.
Hence it is marketing a line of photovoltaic solar lightening solutions, tagged “Awango by Total”, which are Awango by Total Sun King Solo Lamp, Awango by Total Sun King Pro Lamp and Awango by Total Joulestick Light Kick.
“These portable solar lamps and cell phone charger respectively are affordable and brighter than most commonly used lighting sources, such as kerosene lamps, candles and batteries. Our aim is to provide access to lighting for 5% off the grid households in Nigeria by selling 1 million lamps by 2017”.says Total.
ISAAC ANYAOGU
