The United Nations has cited Nigeria’s rural electrification programme as an example of expanding electricity access through targeted subsidies and private investment.
The recognition was contained in the World Social Report 2026, released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Citing World Bank data, the report said Nigeria’s Electrification Project supported the establishment of 125 mini-grids and the sale of more than one million solar home systems, providing electricity to over five million Nigerians and supporting more than 5,000 green jobs.
It described subsidies for rural mini-grids as an example of combining affordable electricity with private-sector investment, particularly in underserved communities.
The report also identified Nigeria and Ghana as pioneers in integrating solar panels into agricultural land, allowing farmers to generate electricity while continuing food production.
According to the UN, combining renewable energy with agriculture could improve food security, water management and economic opportunities in rural communities.
The report also assessed Nigeria’s economic transformation and social inclusion between 2000 and 2024, awarding the country a transformation score of 44.30 and an inclusiveness score of 56.36, with a combined index score of 100.67.
The comparative assessment covered 168 countries and examined economic, digital, energy and social development.
The UN stressed that economic growth and technological progress did not automatically ensure that vulnerable populations benefited from development.
