The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and the Mastercard Foundation have launched a programme designed to create and improve jobs and livelihoods for 17,000 youth, particularly young women, in the agricultural sector. The Energising Women and Youths in Agrifood Systems (EWAS) scheme operates in multiple countries including Nigeria and Ethiopia, according to Chianda Njogu, the Director for Powering Opportunity in Africa at GEA. The partnership supports various initiatives, including work with MANAMUS Electric, which operates a solar-powered greenhouse facility in Ugwuomu-Nike, in Enugu East Local Government Area.
The MANAMUS facility has been identified as a model for modernising agriculture across Africa. The greenhouses use sustainable inputs such as biochar and rice husk to replace soil, while cold storage and solar-powered water pumps represent modern energy solutions. Njogu described the facility as precision agriculture operating in an off-grid community that nonetheless has reliable power, water and other essential services. The most important outcome the organisation expects to create is how to generate jobs, improve livelihoods and create economic prosperity for countries and communities through addressing energy poverty and introducing renewable energy access.
Scaling up the initiative will require funding beyond philanthropy alone, according to GEA. The partnership is working with the World Bank and SMAP to establish a Centre of Excellence for Productive Use of Energy to support the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to electrify 300 million people. Charles Aliozo, co-founder and Innovation and Growth Officer of MANAMUS, said the Enugu state government has approved a policy to expand the project across 260 farm estates. Each estate covers 200 hectares, with one per cent of land dedicated to productive use of clean energy in agriculture, including integrated cold rooms, micro solar grids and greenhouses focused on youth participation.
Access to the technology has been structured around affordability. MANAMUS adopted a lease-to-own model because smallholder farmers cannot afford the N10.5m cost of a greenhouse. Participants in the programme have reported positive outcomes. Nkoli Igbokwe, President of Donum Dei Cello Cooperative, said her group expected its first harvest of bell peppers by the end of November. Onyia Salomon, an apiculturist, described the greenhouse opportunity as significant for her beekeeping business, as it provides a controlled environment for bees to access nectars.
For savers, borrowers, business owners and investors in Nigeria, this programme means new pathways for youth to generate income through modern, energy-efficient agricultural production, with structured financing models designed to reach smallholder farmers.