Ridwan Alimuwa

Pioneered solar energy solutions to electrify Nigeria's off-grid communities

Ridwan Alimuwa is the Nigerian founder of Beyond the Grid Fund, a social enterprise delivering affordable solar power to rural households since 2015. His work addresses Nigeria's energy crisis where 85% of rural populations lacked electricity access as of 2020. Alimuwa's pay-as-you-go solar systems have provided lighting and phone charging to over 1 million people in 300+ communities across northern Nigeria.

His innovative 'Solar as a Service' model allows families to purchase solar kits through mobile payments, making renewable energy accessible without upfront costs. The system includes smart meters that track usage and enable microtransactions. This approach has reduced kerosene use by 70% in serviced areas while creating local jobs in installation and maintenance.

Alimuwa's vision extends to community empowerment through energy access. Partnering with UNDP and World Bank, his projects include solar-powered schools and health clinics. By 2023, his initiatives had avoided 12,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. His TEDx Talk 'Energy Equality in Nigeria' (2018) highlights how decentralized energy systems can drive socioeconomic development in Africa.