Safiya Aliyu: Women Leading the Charge in African Energy Access | Energy Sector Heroes

Many of my listeners are passionate about real-world impact — not just in decarbonisation, but in delivering real, tangible transformation to underserved communities. In this week’s episode, I speak with Safiya Aliyu, General Manager at Susei Renewable Energies and Country Director of the Mata Ariwan Susei Initiative. Her journey is a powerful reminder that energy access isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s about dignity, opportunity, and long-term economic growth. We explore what it takes to electrify remote Nigerian villages, the real cost of raising funds, and how community ownership transforms energy projects into vehicles for sustainable livelihoods. Safiya also opens up about the personal sacrifices, systemic hurdles, and quiet resilience that fuel her mission. 🔌 Three Actionable Takeaways: ·      🧾 Get investment-ready: Build transparent processes and strong documentation early. Funders look for solid governance, not just passion. ·      🧠 Create space for behaviour change: Introducing electricity is the first step — but training locals to use it productively ensures long-term impact. ·      🤝 Leverage trust and word-of-mouth: Sometimes the most effective growth strategy is letting the results speak for themselves — and letting communities share the story.