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The Enugu State Government has backed a proposed $220 million solar power project aimed at delivering 100 megawatts of electricity to households, businesses and communities across the state.
The project, known as Solar Hybrid Interconnected Networks for Enugu (SHINE), is being developed by Eauxwell Nigeria Limited and is expected to be implemented in phases over three years.
Governor Peter Mbah endorsed the proposal during a meeting with the company at the Government House in Enugu on October 5, 2026, while calling for affordable electricity tariffs and faster project delivery.
The initiative is the first major investment opportunity being pursued through the state’s Climate and Development Investment Platform (CDIP), which was established to connect investors with government institutions and accelerate climate-related development projects.
Under the proposal, Eauxwell plans to develop solar hybrid plants across the state, beginning with clusters in peri-urban areas connected to the existing electricity distribution network.

The first phase will focus on the Eha-Amufu and Owo cluster, where the company plans to construct a 10-megawatt solar plant equipped with battery storage. The facility is expected to supply electricity to about 30 communities along the two electricity feeders.
Eauxwell said the first plant had reached the pre-construction design stage and would require an estimated $22 million, equivalent to about ₦31 billion, to develop.
The financing model for each plant is expected to combine equity, loans and grant funding through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
Speaking during the meeting, Mbah said the state was committed to attracting private investment in the electricity sector but insisted that projects must provide reliable power at rates households and businesses could afford.
He added that the government would support efforts to resolve challenges that could delay implementation, while ensuring that investors could recover their costs within a competitive electricity market.

Affordability and tariff structures featured prominently in discussions, with the governor examining the company’s proposed pricing assumptions and financial model.
Eauxwell said final electricity tariffs would be determined in consultation with the relevant regulatory authorities.
The Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme at the REA, Olufemi Akinyelure, also joined the meeting virtually to explain the structure and implementation process of the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme.
Discussions further covered regulatory approvals, commercial agreements, land requirements, financing arrangements and other conditions that must be met before construction can begin.
The proposed project is expected to use battery storage to improve the reliability of solar power supply and support electricity access for households, shops, agricultural processing businesses and other productive enterprises.

If implemented as planned, the 100MW programme could expand electricity supply across participating communities and create opportunities for businesses that depend on reliable power for production and daily operations.
The meeting also considered the separate Aninri electrification project, which the state government said it was working to advance towards construction.
The next stage of SHINE will involve concluding financing and commercial agreements, securing regulatory approvals and finalising land arrangements ahead of construction.

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Applications have opened for the 2026 Ibom Ignite Entrepreneurship and Innovation Grant, an initiative aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs, startups and innovators seeking funding to develop or expand their ventures.
 
The grant is part of the 2026 Ibom Ignite Conference, themed “Reinvent: Rethink. Reimagine. Redesign. Become.” It is designed to support innovative business ideas and ventures with the potential for growth and scalability.
The opportunity targets young entrepreneurs with existing startups, innovators developing new business ideas and business owners seeking support to expand their operations.
However, the available programme information does not specify the grant amount, application deadline, age limit or detailed eligibility criteria. Interested applicants are advised to consult the official application portal for further requirements.

Applicants can apply by visiting the official Ibom Ignite Entrepreneurship and Innovation Grant 2026 application portal and completing the online form. They are encouraged to provide accurate information and review the application requirements before submission.
The initiative comes amid ongoing efforts to improve access to funding for entrepreneurs and startups, particularly those seeking to transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
By supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, the grant aims to create opportunities for business development, expansion and potential job creation.
 

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has proposed fines of up to ₦100 million for businesses that breach new rules governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in marketing and sales promotions.
The proposal is contained in the draft Sales Promotion Regulations, 2026, released by the commission on September 30, 2026.
Under the draft regulations, businesses using AI, machine learning or other automated technologies for sales promotions, marketing communications and consumer engagement targeting Nigerians would be required to register such use with the commission.
The proposed rules introduce a section on “Artificial Intelligence and Automated Marketing”, requiring businesses to clearly identify AI-generated content and ensure transparency in the use of AI chatbots, virtual influencers and automated messaging systems.
The draft also prohibits manipulative practices, misinformation and the exploitation of consumers’ personal data or behavioural tendencies. Businesses would be required to provide consumers with the option to opt out of automated or AI-driven marketing messages.

Under the proposed sanctions, a corporate body that violates the regulations could face an administrative penalty of up to ₦100 million or one per cent of its previous year’s turnover, whichever is higher. Individuals could face fines of up to ₦50 million.
The draft further provides for possible legal action against directors of companies that breach the regulations, including disqualification from serving as directors for up to five years.
Separate penalties of up to ₦10 million are proposed for specific offences, including failure to award a promised prize, non-compliance with promotion terms and making false statements in applications or undertakings.
The commission’s proposal also places responsibility on businesses for messages, claims and representations generated by the AI systems they deploy. Companies could therefore be held liable for misleading, discriminatory or harmful promotional outcomes produced by automated tools.
The proposed framework would require businesses to take responsibility for their AI-driven marketing activities rather than attribute misleading promotions to the technology they use.

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Access Holdings Plc onboarded 78,438 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) onto its financing platforms in 2025, while women-owned businesses received ₦34.2 billion in financing during the year.
The financial services group said its MSME strategy combines banking, digital payments, app-based lending and business advisory services to improve access to finance and support business growth across its operating markets.
Through its MSME Toolkit and related programmes, Access Holdings also provides training and advisory support to strengthen entrepreneurs’ financial management, cash flow planning and business operations.
The group delivers these services through its subsidiaries and business units. Access Bank provides banking, trade services and working capital financing, while Hydrogen Payment Services offers digital payment infrastructure for merchants.
Oxygen X Finance provides app-based credit to entrepreneurs, helping extend financing opportunities to businesses that may have limited access to traditional bank lending.

The integration of digital payments, credit and advisory services is designed to help businesses access financial tools while generating transaction records that could support future credit assessments.
Access Holdings’ approach also seeks to address longstanding barriers to MSME financing, including limited collateral, inadequate credit histories and the high cost of serving small businesses.
However, the long-term impact of the strategy will depend on loan repayment performance, sustained financing growth and the ability of supported businesses to expand and remain viable.
MSMEs remain important to employment generation and economic activity across Africa, but many continue to face challenges accessing formal credit and financial services.
By expanding digital financing channels, Access Holdings aims to reach more small businesses while supporting financial inclusion and diversifying its lending portfolio.

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