Strategic Leadership in Nigeria's Energy Sector: An Interview with Seun Edun, Country Director at PowerGen Renewable Energy

Recruited by Millar Cameron and now the Country Director of PowerGen Renewable Energy Nigeria, Seun Edun has been instrumental in guiding PowerGen’s evolution from rural mini-grids to larger-scale energy projects, including collaborations with distribution companies (DisCos).

In this interview, Seun discusses his journey to leadership, the dynamic challenges within Nigeria's energy sector, and the innovative approaches PowerGen is taking to drive growth and sustainability.

Could you provide an overview of PowerGen’s operations and, following your recent promotion, outline your key responsibilities and how they contribute to the company’s strategic objectives?

It's been almost two years since I joined PowerGen, an organisation with decades of experience in developing mini-grids.

When I joined, the company was in the midst of transitioning from rural mini-grids to larger-scale metro grids and Commercial and Industrial (C&I) solar power systems.

It was an exciting time to come on board as the Head of Business Development in Nigeria, with a clear mandate to drive growth and market penetration in what was still a relatively nascent market.

Since joining, we’ve made incredible progress. When I started, we had just one partnership with a distribution company (DisCo), but now we’re either in negotiations or have agreements with all but two of them.

Additionally, shortly after I joined, I took on the responsibility of leading the C&I business, integrating it into our broader business development efforts.

Today, we have a robust pipeline of over 20 projects, collectively amounting to approximately 30 Megawatts at various stages of development. The past couple of years have been incredibly productive for both the company and myself, offering deep insights into deal structuring, financing, and contracting, including the complexities of Power Purchase Agreements.

What specifically drew you to PowerGen? What aspects of the company or the industry made this the right fit for you at this stage in your professional journey?

I'd been in the sector for several years and then had a hiatus, trying out things in other sectors. PowerGen was just the right platform for me. It was a perfect match for the organisation and myself as the changes we wanted to make in the industry a decade ago are just ripening. PowerGen is perfectly positioned to take advantage, especially in respect of policy and regulatory changes made to de-risk the market, bring more investments, and increase energy access to underserved customers across the country.

The Nigerian energy sector has faced significant challenges over the years. How has PowerGen positioned itself to tackle these issues effectively, and what strategies are you implementing to overcome the sector's unique obstacles?

There are many challenges with the national grid and the electricity market in Nigeria. Our primary focus is off-grid energy access, and PowerGen started in Nigeria in 2018 by developing rural mini-grids.

We have the highest installed capacity of rural mini-grids across the country. We've come with a lot of creativity and innovation to partner with the DisCos and isolate areas that could become a win-win, providing clean, reliable, cost-effective power solutions.

How does your collaboration with DisCos differ from your work on rural mini-grids, and has this shift required a different set of skills or expertise from you?

Absolutely, the work with DisCos is quite different from our rural mini-grid projects. The rural mini-grid work was focused on isolated, often very rural areas where DisCos were typically not present, and these projects were commercially unviable without grants from organisations like the World Bank or AfDB.

As we transitioned, our focus shifted to developing larger metro grid-type projects that are commercially viable and profitable, saving our customer’s money and ensuring more reliable supply through self generation as well as enabling them to reduce their carbon footprints through the use of cleaner sources of energy generation.

While this shift has required a change in market focus, the core skills - such as deal structuring, technical engineering and design skills, contract management, and business analysis - remain largely the same.

Given the evolving landscape in Nigeria’s energy sector, what new business models are emerging, and how is PowerGen adapting its approach to work with DisCos under these new frameworks?

There are definitely offshoots of a larger model emerging, mostly around working with the DisCos.

One such solution is the interconnected mini-grid, which is capped at a 1 MW generation capacity. Another is the distribution franchising model, where the DisCos concession parts of their network to energy service providers like ourselves. Additionally, we’re pioneering something called the ‘Renewable Embedded Generation Model’, which involves jointly managing the network with the DisCo while we provide enhanced generation capabilities. Each of these models is designed to leverage our expertise while addressing the specific needs of the Nigerian energy sector.

Given the introduction of these new business models and opportunities, how do you view the future of the energy sector in Nigeria? Are you optimistic about the sector’s growth and potential?

The potential in Nigeria's energy sector is immense. I am very optimistic about the future, especially as we continue to collaborate with industry stakeholders, regulators, and institutions like the World Bank and Rural Electrification Agency, to further de-risk investments in the market.

As headhunters, we’re always trying to think laterally about where we might find people with relevant skills for our client. Given your experience working outside the energy sector, what key transferable skills have been most valuable in your successful transition back into the sector at PowerGen?

The most crucial skill has been leadership, which enabled me to rise within a year from Head of Business Development to Country Director for Nigeria.

Secondly, my strong networking abilities, particularly in building relationships across various segments of the industry, have been instrumental in driving the business forward and achieving our strategic goals, but the biggest transferable skill is leadership - the ability to manage the team, keep everybody focused and being able to concentrate our focus on the core objectives, especially at a period where we were transitioning, I think that’s the biggest for me.

Congratulations on your recent industry recognition by SolarQuarter Africa as one of the emerging stars in the sector. What do you believe sets you apart from others in the industry, and what unique approaches or strategies have contributed to your standout success?

I have good people skills and know how to make people work and collaborate effectively.

I always say no one is self made, always team made. I believe that's been my biggest strength - managing stakeholders while keeping objectives and timelines in view.

The industry isn’t overly crowded right now, and the potential is huge. We need more players for things to really take off and deliver the benefits to everyone. That means policy-making and regulatory change is absolutely imperative.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve contributed significantly in this area, working closely with regulators, World Bank teams, Afdb teams, the REA, and other energy service providers and generating companies. That’s been a big focus for me.

You’ve clearly had a very successful first couple of years. What are your ambitions and hopes for the next couple of years at PowerGen?

The big focus is getting the business to profitability.

We aim to deploy multiple megawatts of solar power systems and achieve close to 100 megawatts of installed capacity by December 2026. My colleagues and I in the PowerGen leadership team are laser-focused on these objectives.

Seun Edun's leadership at PowerGen has clearly made a significant impact on Nigeria's energy sector.

His strategic approach to overcoming challenges, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation places him as a key figure in shaping the country's energy future.

With a commitment to scaling up solar power systems and achieving ambitious targets, Seun’s journey is just beginning, and his insights offer a glimpse into the exciting potential of Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.

Huge thanks to Seun for taking the time to chat with us - It’s always a pleasure!