The Chief Executive Officer of Suntisolar Engineering Africa Limited, Engr. Obon Naya Kelechi Inrakaze, has emphasized the company’s commitment to locally manufacturing renewable energy solutions, positioning it as a key player in Nigeria’s energy transition.
Inrakaze made this assertion on Wednesday during the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) State-by-State Roundtable Engagement with Abia State in Abuja, where he underscored the firm’s unique advantage over competitors who rely heavily on imported solar technology.
“Unlike many renewable energy service providers that purchase equipment from China without ownership of the technology, we manufacture what we deploy,” Inrakaze said. “That means we take full responsibility for the quality of our solutions. As the saying goes, you don’t sell a bad-legged fowl within your vicinity. We ensure that what we deliver meets the highest standards because it bears our name.”
The Suntisolar CEO revealed that the company’s flagship brand, AfriCell, is already making inroads across multiple Nigerian states through a joint venture with Guangzhou Kaizhou Electric Limited of China. “At the moment, we have registered as a Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) with the REA, which allows us to leverage funding opportunities to expand our reach within the sector,” he said.
Inrakaze disclosed that the company has acquired a five-acre site at the Ogungwando Free Zone to further localize its operations, with plans to strategically align with the Abia State government’s Abia Industrial Innovative Park initiative to boost industrial energy supply. He added that Suntisolar is already employing over 300 trained Nigerian staff, with ongoing technical training from Chinese partners at its Lakija and Lekki Free Zone facilities.
Calling for sustained government support, Inrakaze lauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration for increasing funding to Nigeria’s renewable energy drive through agencies like the REA. “We commend Mr. President for creating an enabling environment that has attracted financing from partners like the World Bank and UNDP. This is the best we’ve had in a long time, and though many may not see it now, the progress is undeniable,” he stated.
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