USADF plans to grow entrepreneurship through energy support initiative
By Yunus Yusuf
The United State African Development Foundation (USADF) says it is taking steps to support entrepreneurs and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
It aim is to contribute to the development and growth of these enterprises for the benefit of local communities.
Mr Travis Adkins, President, USADF, said this on Thursday in Lagos that the intervention includes financial assistance, with the goal of boosting Nigeria’s economy.
The Business Intelligence (TBI Africa) reports that USADF is an independent agency of the U.S. government, established by Congress to directly invest in African grassroots enterprises and social entrepreneurs.
Adkins told TBI Africa on the sidelines of the All-On/U.S. Africa Development Foundation Conference that the intervention seeks to explore strategies for developing, scaling-up, and extending the use of proven technologies.
According to him, this can provide off-grid energy solutions to communities currently underserved by existing power grids.
Adkins, who was on a week-long visit to Nigeria, was expected to highlight the U.S. government support for expanding electricity generation in underserved communities through sustainable business models.
Adkins, who is also Chief Executive Officer of USADF, said that the organisation had been in the forefront of a definite support system that could aid small business and contribute to the reduction of energy deficit in Nigeria.
“We are excited at USADF to be in Nigeria, we have started in Abuja and we are now in Lagos on a mission of this affiliate to engage our local partners and grantees that we have across the country.
“They are doing tremendous work in agriculture, agro business as well as solar and renewable energy space, not only to light up the lives of the people of Nigeria, but also provide power and energy to businesses in the country.
“This is to improve livelihood, to increase profits margins for small business owners as well as reduce air pollution, to reduce the cost of energy.
“It is also to take the people off the dependency on generators and the cost of petrol and to make up for sometimes the intermitted unreliability of the national grid, so that people can have multiple opportunities,” he said.
Adkins said that USADF would be pleased to explore all the opportunities available to support businesses in Nigeria.
“Our plans are to explore all the opportunities we have in the country to work with local partners to see the successes we have already achieved.
“We also have the platform to talk to entreprenuers and some SME’s owners about what their additional needs are,” he said.
Adkins in his earlier remark said that the U.S. would explore better ways in intervention towards providing mutually beneficial initiatives in Nigeria.
“We want to be part of the business institute in Nigeria, developing initiatives as plans in USADF. It is important to the government of the U.S. and we are proud representatives of the government.
“We want to strengthen the relationship between U.S. and Nigeria and we have been able to demonstrate the care for the socio-economic development of this nation.
“We also care about the economic relationship between Nigeria and the U.S., which we hope will be increasingly mutually beneficial for all those involved,” he said.
Mrs Caroline Eboumbou, Chief Executive Officer, All-on Energy Group, said that the workshop was borne out of the research on the energy deficit in Nigeria and how it could be breached.
“We are here to launch an exciting product. Few years ago, All-on Energy did a survey on why solar energy is not all acceptable form of energy in Nigeria and we come up with our findings.
“We funded the research, and so, we are here to launch the results from the research to accelerate the adoption of solar energy in Nigeria and to put in the front burner the solutions to assist the renewable energy.
“The energy deficit in Nigeria is so huge not only those connected to the national grid, but those that are not connected.
“Our partnerships with USADF will help improve our reach in evolving solutions to the energy deficit that we have in Nigeria,” she said
