Esther Ogiegbo

Pioneered renewable energy initiatives in Nigeria through grassroots community projects

Esther Ogiegbo (b.1972) is a Nigerian environmental engineer and social entrepreneur whose work revolutionized rural electrification strategies across West Africa. Founding the Green Future Initiative in 1998, she developed innovative solar microgrid systems tailored for Nigeria's unique challenges. Her approach combined engineering innovation with community engagement, training over 5,000 local technicians by 2005. Through partnerships with UNDP and local governments, her projects brought electricity to 200+ rural communities, reducing deforestation caused by kerosene use. Ogiegbo's 2003 TED Talk 'Lighting Africa from the Ground Up' became a blueprint for decentralized energy solutions. Her 2007 book remains a key text in sustainable development studies. She later founded the Women in Energy Network, which now operates in 12 countries. Her work is documented in Wikipedia and the African Energy Journal.