Damilola Ogunbiyi was recently made the Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy. She is also the CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
Ogunbiyi succeeds Rachel Kyte of the United Kingdom as Special Representative, Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy, and CEO of SEforALL.
Ogunbiyi is a globally respected leader with a broad and diverse international network in the area of energy development, which includes key relationships with leading multilateral and bilateral partners and the private sector. She is also one of the Commissioners for the Global Commission to End Energy Poverty.
Ogunbiyi brings extensive leadership experience and a track record of supporting energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa to these roles. She was the first woman to be appointed as Managing Director of the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency. She is also responsible for implementing the Nigerian Off-Grid Electrification Programme and successfully negotiating the Nigerian Electrification Project, to rapidly construct solar mini-grids and deploy solar home systems across Nigeria.
Damilola developed the Energizing Economics Initiative and Energizing Education Programme, which provides sustainable and affordable off-grid power solutions. Before joining the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ogunbiyi was the first woman to be appointed as the General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board, which is responsible for public lighting, independent power projects, and energy development serving millions of people across the State. Prior to this, she consulted for the United Kingdom Department for International Development on public-private partnerships.
Damilola is an infrastructure development expert with demonstrated experience in the public and private sector in various roles which include portfolio management, cost and risk management, public-private partnership (PPP), energy sector advisory and strategic leadership with a particular focus on power sector infrastructure development.
As the first female Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), she successfully negotiated within 18 months, the Nigerian Electrification Project, a $350m World Bank and $200m African Development Bank Facility for the development of solar mini-grids and solar home systems in Nigeria which will impact 2.5 million Nigerians and 500,000 SMEs.
As General Manager- Lagos State Electricity Board, she led the transformation of a moribund organisation to a world-class electricity board responsible for developing independent power plants, executing the public lighting master plan, creation of an energy training institution and energy development for Lagos State Government.
As the former Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) Coordinator, her role included coordinating the activities of the PSRP, which is a series of policy actions, operational, governance and financial interventions to be implemented by Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) over 5 years (2017-2021) to restore the financial viability of Nigeria’s power sector, improve transparency and service delivery, and RESET the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry for future growth.
Ogunbiyi maintains a keen interest in mentoring and empowering young people through skills acquisitions. She created the Lagos State Energy Academy to build the capacity of young people in renewable energy technology.
She developed, managed and monitored independent power projects which were completed to deliver over 55 megawatts of power to Lagos State hospitals, schools, streetlights, and the Government secretariat. In renewable energy, she completed a 5MW decentralised solar project for 213 schools and clinics in Lagos State.
Damilola also led the transformation of a moribund organisation to a world-class electricity board responsible for developing Independent power plants, executing the public lighting master plan, creation of an energy training institution and energy development for Lagos State Government.
Damilola’s selection as CEO of SEforALL, which followed UN Secretary-General, António Guterres announcing her appointment as his Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, means in both capacities, Ogunbiyi will continue the close ties SEforALL has with the UN, helping to support even greater collaboration towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7): affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
