Baobab Microfinance Bank Nigeria has officially launched its Green Finance Project in a strategic move to address the growing energy deficit and rising costs facing urban households and businesses in Lagos.
The initiative is a structured training and capacity-building programme designed to create a new cadre of professionals capable of guiding Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and homeowners toward sustainable energy solutions.
As grid instability and high fuel prices continue to impact productivity in Lagos, solar energy has moved from a luxury to a necessity.
However, the market has long been hampered by a lack of technical and financial guidance, often resulting in “poorly matched solutions” and “unsustainable outcomes” for consumers.
According to a statement from Baobab Microfinance Bank Nigeria, the Green Finance Project aims to eliminate these barriers by training Green Energy and Finance Consultants.
These specialists will be equipped with a unique blend of technical knowledge and financial literacy, ensuring that solar investments are both technically viable and economically realistic for the end-user.
Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of Baobab Microfinance Bank Nigeria, Eric Ntumba, said, “Access to reliable solar energy starts with the right advice. Through the Green Finance Project, we are investing in people and building the skills required to guide households and SMEs toward solar solutions that are affordable, realistic, and aligned with their long-term needs.”
The programme’s rollout includes an active recruitment phase for consultants who will undergo rigorous, real-world training tailored to the specific energy landscape of Lagos.
According to the bank, the goal is to reinforce trust in the renewable energy market by providing advice that prioritises the client’s long-term interests over short-term sales.
Rolf Kreitel, Project Manager of the Green Finance Project, emphasised the practical philosophy behind the initiative.
He said, “This project comes from a simple conviction: real change only happens when energy decisions make financial sense, are technically understood, and are supported by advisors who are trained rigorously enough to understand the everyday realities people and small businesses face in Lagos.”
The initiative is backed by the European Investment Bank through its Financial Inclusion Fund. This international partnership highlights the project’s alignment with global sustainability goals and Baobab’s own Social Performance Management framework, which focuses on responsible finance and client protection.
By focusing on human capacity rather than just hardware, Baobab Nigeria expects to improve the quality of solar adoption across the state, ensuring that every solar panel installed contributes to a genuinely sustainable financial future for its customers.
