The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has announced the appointment of a Nigerian, Damilola Ogunbiyi as his special representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy.
Ogunbiyi was also appointed by the Administrative Board of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) to take over from Rachel Kyte as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation.
Ogunbiyi’s profile: Ogunbiyi has a track record of leadership roles in Sub-Saharan Africa. She was the first woman to be appointed as Managing Director of the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency. She was also responsible for implementing the Nigerian Off-Grid Electrification Programme and successfully negotiating the Nigerian Electrification Project, to rapidly construct solar mini-grids and deploy solar home systems across Nigeria.
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A globally-respected leader with a broad and diverse international network in the area of energy development, which includes key relationships with leading multilateral and bilateral partners and the private sector, Ogunbiyi is one of the Commissioners for the Global Commission to End Energy Poverty.
The new UN Special Representative developed the Energising Economics Initiative and Energizing Education Programme, which provides sustainable and affordable off-grid power solutions.
Prior to this, Ogunbiyi was the first woman to be appointed as the General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board, which is responsible for public lighting, independent power projects, and energy development serving millions of people across the State.
She has also previously consulted for the United Kingdom Department for International Development on public-private partnerships.
Ogunbiyi holds a Bachelors degree in Project Management with construction and a Masters Degree in Construction Management with Public-Private Partnership both from the University of Brighton.
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About SEforALL: Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, that is dedicated to helping the world achieve SDG7 and Paris Agreement targets. It has close ties to the United Nations through an existing relationship agreement, partnerships with United Nations agencies further strengthened by this new appointment of Ogunbiyi’s roles as Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy.
