Imagine a future where factories hum with steady electricity, businesses thrive, and young people find meaningful jobs in every town across Northern Nigeria. Imagine clean, affordable energy powering industries from Maiduguri to Sokoto, Jos to Kano with energy that does not pollute, that does not depend on costly fuel imports, and that is as reliable as the rising sun.
This future is not a distant dream. It is within reach. The sun that shines over Northern Nigeria every day holds the key to unlocking this economic transformation. Yet, we continue to rely on unreliable grids and expensive diesel generators that hold back the region’s true potential.
Northern Nigeria is blessed with some of the highest solar energy levels on the planet which ranges between 5.5 and 7.0 kilowatt-hours per square meter each day. To put it simply, the sun here is not just bright but abundantly beyond measure. Across more than 19 states, vast swathes of land bask under intense sunlight for over 3,000 hours a year. Why then, in the 21st century, are so many factories shut down or operating below capacity? Why are so many entrepreneurs struggling to keep the lights on? The answer is not scarcity but choices.
If we seek proof that solar energy can power a nation’s economy, we need look no further than Morocco’s Ouarzazate Solar Power Station. This sprawling complex, built on the edge of the Sahara Desert, is one of the largest concentrated solar power projects in the world. Its massive arrays of mirrors focus on sunlight to produce clean electricity, which is stored in molten salt tanks and delivered day and night. With over 580 megawatts of installed capacity, Ouarzazate powers more than one million homes which significantly cuts Morocco’s dependence on costly imported fossil fuels. The plant has created thousands of local jobs, attracted billions in investment, and positioned Morocco as a leader in renewable energy on the continent.
This project was not born from wealth or fortune. It was the product of vision, political will, and strategic partnerships. If Morocco can build such a facility in the harsh desert, Northern Nigeria, with its abundant sunlight and industrious population, can certainly replicate and surpass this achievement.
Every year, northern states spend billions of naira sponsoring pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem. These are journeys of deep faith and importance. Yet, when compared to the urgent economic needs of electricity to run factories, power to light hospitals, schools and homes, this spending calls for serious reflection. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, many of these states reportedly spent as much as ₦3 billion each year on pilgrimage subsidies. If even half of this money were redirected and pooled into a “Northern Renewable Energy Fund”, the region could mobilize hundreds of billions of naira in just a few years. This could finance solar power plants, create thousands of jobs, and transform the energy landscape.
Is it not time to ask: what legacy do we want to leave for the next generation? Is it the honor of funding one pilgrimage, or the pride of powering millions of homes and businesses that will facilitate the people to sponsor themselves independently?
Firms, companies, and entrepreneurs across Northern Nigeria also have a vital role to play in this solar revolution. By contributing funding, expertise, and innovation, the private sector can accelerate the development of solar power projects. Public-private partnerships will attract more investment, reduce costs, and ensure that solar energy solutions meet the specific needs of local industries and communities. When government and business unite in this cause, the region’s economic transformation will become unstoppable.
To make this vision a reality, the northern governors must lead with boldness and clarity. Each state should develop ambitious solar energy plans by setting measurable targets and creating incentives to attract private sector investment. By pooling resources the states can create a regional solar investment fund capable of attracting international climate finance and private investors.
The region must also build solar-powered industrial parks where factories and workshops operate entirely on solar mini-grids. This will reduce the cost of doing business and encourage entrepreneurship. Vocational training centers across the North should be equipped and supported to train thousands of young technicians in solar technology, fueling a green jobs revolution.
State governments should lead by example, switching all public facilities, schools, hospitals, government offices to solar power, proving to the public that the technology works and is cost-effective. Northern states can also forge partnerships with Nigerian solar companies and African renewable energy leaders to exchange knowledge, technology, and investment opportunities, leveraging South-South cooperation frameworks for greater impact.
The 19 northern states share common challenges and opportunities. The Northern Governors’ Forum is uniquely positioned to drive a united renewable energy agenda. By coordinating efforts, the region can benefit from economies of scale, shared expertise, and increased bargaining power in financing and technology acquisition. Together, the states could develop large solar farms strategically located to supply multiple states through interconnected mini-grids. This regional approach would maximize impact and foster economic integration.
Faith is at the heart of northern Nigerian identity. But faith calls not only for devotion but also for stewardship. Investing in solar energy is a form of stewardship that will take care of the people, the environment, and the future. Morocco, a Muslim-majority country, has demonstrated that faith and modern development walk hand in hand.
Every day Northern Nigeria delays investing in solar energy, it loses potential jobs, income, and investor confidence. Industries lose millions in productivity. Young people are denied opportunities. The environmental costs of continued diesel generator use grow. Meanwhile, other regions in Africa and the world leap forward on clean energy.
The sun rises every morning with unchanging promise. It shines over Northern Nigeria, waiting to be harnessed. The question is not whether we have the resources, but whether we have the courage and wisdom to use them. Northern governors, the people look to you to lead boldly. Rethink priorities and suspend non-essential spending. Invest in solar energy, the economy, and the future.
