Folakemi Ogundipe

Nigerian renewable energy entrepreneur leading Africa's clean energy revolution through innovative solar solutions

Introduction

Folakemi Ogundipe is a visionary Nigerian engineer and entrepreneur whose company Sunligth Energy has transformed rural electrification across West Africa. Since founding the company in 2015, she has brought affordable solar power to over 2 million people in 8 countries through her Pay-As-You-Go solar home systems. Her work directly addresses UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), earning her the 2022 African Energy Prize and inclusion in Forbes Africa's 30 Under 30 in 2023.

Innovative Business Model

Ms. Ogundipe's groundbreaking approach combines mobile payment technology with modular solar systems. Through partnerships with telecom giants like MTN and Airtel, her customers can purchase solar energy via mobile money transfers - a first in the region. This model has reduced electricity costs by 40% compared to traditional grid solutions while eliminating fossil fuel dependency in off-grid communities. A detailed case study appears in Greenpeace's 2023 Renewable Energy Innovations Report.

Community Impact

Beyond providing lighting, her systems power micro-enterprises: fishmongers keep product fresh with refrigeration, tailors operate sewing machines, and farmers use irrigation pumps. A 2024 World Bank study found her projects increased household incomes by 27% and reduced kerosene-related health issues by 63%. Her TED Talk 'Solar Power as Economic Liberation' has over 1.2 million views.

Global Recognition

In 2025, she became the first African woman to win the Global Cleantech Leadership Award, beating competitors from Silicon Valley and Scandinavia. Her company now operates in partnership with the UNDP to scale across 15 African nations. Critics praise her 'bottom-up' approach: 'She didn't just bring electricity - she created energy democracy' - Guardian Africa Report, Jan 2023.