All On and Energise Africa have committed $4 million to Maskh Nigeria Limited to expand solar-powered mini-grid infrastructure across 19 underserved communities in Nigeria’s Jigawa and Bauchi States. The investment is intended to provide reliable and affordable electricity to households, businesses, schools, health facilities, and other customers that currently lack dependable power access. The project is expected to reach almost 100,000 people while supporting broader economic activity and essential services in participating communities.
Expanding Renewable Energy Access
The financing is being provided through the Demand Aggregation for Renewable Energy Technology, or DART, Programme, which supports the deployment of decentralized renewable energy solutions. Maskh will use the capital to develop and deploy mini-grid systems designed to deliver clean electricity to communities where grid access remains limited or unreliable. The initiative is expected to reduce dependence on more expensive or environmentally damaging alternatives while expanding opportunities for productive energy use.
Reliable electricity remains an important constraint on economic development in many rural and underserved areas of Nigeria, particularly for small businesses and public services. By connecting local enterprises, homes, educational institutions, and health facilities, the new mini-grids are expected to support business activity and improve access to basic services. The project also demonstrates how decentralized energy infrastructure can complement conventional power networks in areas where grid expansion remains challenging.
Catalytic Investment in Local Energy Companies
All On said the investment reflects its strategy of using catalytic capital to help Nigerian renewable energy companies expand commercially viable solutions for communities with limited electricity access. The impact investor, which was initially seeded by Shell, provides debt, equity, and non-financial support to companies working to close Nigeria’s energy-access gap. Supporting Maskh is expected to strengthen both the company’s operating capacity and the broader ecosystem for off-grid renewable energy development.
All On CEO Caroline Eboumbou said access to electricity can create the conditions needed for households, businesses, and communities to grow economically. She emphasized that backing locally established energy companies can help deliver practical and scalable infrastructure while advancing Nigeria’s transition toward cleaner energy. According to All On, investments of this kind can also strengthen domestic businesses capable of addressing persistent infrastructure challenges.
Energise Africa Supports Impact Financing
Energise Africa is participating in the transaction through its investment platform, which connects individual investors with clean-energy projects operating in sub-Saharan Africa and other emerging markets. The UK-based platform allows investors to finance bonds issued by renewable energy companies, channeling private capital toward projects designed to generate both financial returns and measurable development impact. Since its launch in 2017, Energise Africa says it has raised more than £50 million for over 250 projects.
Energise Africa CEO Ray Coyle said investors backing the Maskh project are helping finance clean and reliable electricity infrastructure for communities in Jigawa and Bauchi. He said the project illustrates how individual investors can contribute to long-term social, environmental, and economic improvements through renewable energy financing. Energise Africa is owned by Oxford-based impact investment platform Ethex and operates from offices in the United Kingdom and Nairobi.
Maskh Targets Wider Renewable Energy Growth
Maskh Nigeria Limited operates across renewable energy, engineering, construction, electrification, and procurement, serving both public and private-sector clients. Qaim Mahmood, the company’s Director of Operations and Head of Renewable Energy Projects, said the 19 mini-grids will support businesses, essential services, employment, and economic opportunities across participating communities. He added that the financing will strengthen Maskh’s capacity and position the company to pursue larger renewable energy projects in the future.
Maskh also acknowledged the involvement of All On, Energise Africa, and Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency in supporting the initiative. The company views the project as an important expansion of its role in delivering renewable energy infrastructure while creating local employment and building technical capacity. For investors and development partners, the deployment provides another example of how indigenous energy companies can translate financing into physical infrastructure and measurable community impact.
The $4 million investment in Maskh brings together impact capital, private investors, and local renewable energy expertise to expand electricity access across underserved parts of northern Nigeria. By deploying solar mini-grids across 19 communities, the initiative aims to reach nearly 100,000 people while improving conditions for businesses, public institutions, and households. The project also highlights the growing role of decentralized renewable energy and locally operated energy companies in addressing Nigeria’s persistent electricity-access challenges.