Solar-powered business support initiatives are emerging as a growing intervention for small and micro-scale entrepreneurs facing rising energy costs and unreliable electricity supply in Nigeria.


In Ondo State, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has unveiled the Lucky Light Initiative, a phased programme designed to provide solar power systems to 1,000 small businesses across the state’s 18 local government areas.


The initiative, announced at the 2026 Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA) Entrepreneurs Summit in Akure, is aimed at helping entrepreneurs reduce their dependence on petrol and diesel generators while improving their business operations.


The programme is expected to provide selected beneficiaries with solar panels, inverter systems, battery storage, charge controllers and installation support.


Similarly, in Osun State, Hon. Tomiwa Babalola Alatunse has announced a Kiosks Solar Empowerment Programme targeting 1,000 business owners across Ife Federal Constituency.


According to the programme announcement, the initiative is intended to support grassroots entrepreneurs operating businesses including food vending, makeup studios, barbing and hairdressing salons, shawarma and fruit juice outlets, tailoring shops, mobile phone repair businesses and convenience stores.


The programme emphasises that access to solar-powered business facilities should extend beyond large companies to small-scale operators who rely on their businesses for their livelihoods and family needs.


Registration for the Alatunse initiative is scheduled to run from September 28 to October 16, 2026, at the Alatunse Campaign Office, Bakun Area, Ipetumodu.


The two initiatives come against the backdrop of persistent electricity challenges and rising operating costs faced by small businesses, with solar energy increasingly being explored as an alternative source of power for commercial activities.


While Aiyedatiwa’s initiative covers businesses across Ondo State, Alatunse’s programme is focused specifically on entrepreneurs within Ife Federal Constituency, bringing solar-powered business support to the grassroots.