Energy access remains a pressing issue in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 6 out of 10 people still live without electricity. While other regions have surpassed 90% electrification, Africa still accounts for 570 million of the world’s 680 million people without power.
Last week, leaders from across Africa gathered in Dar es Salaam for the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, joining forces with government officials, business leaders, and development partners. Their goal? To bring reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to 300 million people by 2030.
Reaching this milestone will not be easy—it requires major investments, bold reforms, and a shift toward renewable energy. Expanding access means moving away from expensive fossil fuels, strengthening regional power networks, and unlocking private-sector solutions. But the payoff is enormous: economic growth, job creation, and greater gender equality.
“Even in Lagos, there is a market for solar lamps and clean cookstoves,” Oluwatoyin Olugade, a Solar Sister Entrepreneur in Nigeria says. “Gas is expensive, and when it runs out, it’s done. Besides, you cannot always tell when it will run out.”
Solar Sister’s Role in the Movement
As governments and organizations work on large-scale energy infrastructure, Solar Sister is already delivering solutions where they’re needed most. By training and supporting women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania, Solar Sister empowers communities with clean, affordable solar energy—today.
Solar Sister’s model provides light and clean energy, and it builds leadership. Women entrepreneurs gain training, mentorship, and hands-on experience, preparing them to grow their businesses, drive local economies, and play a leading role in the evolving clean energy sector. As energy access expands, these women will be at the forefront as consumers, suppliers, distributors, and service providers.
Mission 300 is an ambitious vision, but change is already happening. With Solar Sister entrepreneurs leading the way, communities don’t have to wait years for infrastructure to catch up. The future of energy in Africa is bright, and women are powering the way forward.
Powering women, Powering Change