Nigeria’s Damilola Ogunbiyi is a multidimensional leader on the global stage. In January 2020, she assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), becoming the first African woman to lead the organisation. She was simultaneously appointed the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, with a mandate to advance global energy access initiatives.
SEforALL is an international organisation that partners with the UN, governments, businesses, and civil society to speed up progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7—universal access to clean energy by 2030—and the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming below 2°C.
Her appointment followed a period of notable public service in Nigeria, where she served as the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). During her tenure, she oversaw the rollout of several national-scale initiatives aimed at addressing energy poverty.
These included the Nigeria Electrification Project—a $350 million World Bank-funded program that supported the deployment of solar mini-grids and home systems, as well as the Energising Education Programme, which supplied off-grid power solutions to dozens of federal universities and teaching hospitals. She also launched the Energising Economies Initiative, targeting improved power access for small businesses in major markets nationwide.
“Scaling access to clean energy is not just a commitment to SDG7; it’s a lifeline for millions, catalysing resilience, opportunity, and sustainable development across the continent.”— Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
Under her administration, the organisation has expanded its reach, supporting energy access programmes in over 90 countries and building a network of more than 200 partners. One of SEforALL’s flagship initiatives is the Universal Energy Facility (UEF), which was launched in 2020.
The UEF employs a results-based financing model that offers incentive payments to organisations delivering verified off-grid solutions. In Sierra Leone, for instance, the facility funded a solar mini-grid in Borup, providing electricity to around 1,300 residents.
This approach has attracted funding and support from several global partners, including the IKEA Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, UK aid, and the Government of the Netherlands.
The Rockefeller Foundation awarded SEforALL a $5 million grant in 2021 to support its mission of accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). These collaborations have been central to the organisation’s efforts in scaling energy access and promoting long-term development goals in low-access regions.
In June 2024, SEforALL’s Governance Board approved Ogunbiyi’s reappointment for a second five-year term, signalling continuity in leadership and the organisation’s confidence in her strategic direction.
Damilola Ogunbiyi has guided SEforALL to become a key player in the global energy transition through policy advocacy, public-private partnerships, and a data-driven approach.
