Quick Summary:
- Salpha Energy, a Nigerian clean energy startup, secured $1.3 million in funding from Shell-backed investor All On to scale its locally assembled solar solutions.
- The company is investing in domestic manufacturing, job creation, and expanding its merchant network, with a focus on empowering young Nigerians and promoting energy sovereignty.
- Led by Sandra Chukwudozie, one of the few female founders in the solar manufacturing space in sub-Saharan Africa, Salpha is creating affordable, resilient solar systems tailored to the African market.
In the race to bridge Africa’s massive electricity access gap, most solutions have come from outside the continent. Imported products, donor-backed models, and pilot programs are often managed far from the communities they aim to serve.
But Salpha Energy, a Nigerian clean energy startup, is changing that narrative. The company is building power solutions for Africa, in Africa, by Africans. With a new $1.3 million investment from Shell-backed investor All On, Salpha is set to scale its impact even further.
This is more than just a clean energy story — it’s the start of a local manufacturing revolution.
Local Manufacturing as Energy Sovereignty
While many solar companies in Africa still rely on imported kits and third-party assembly, Salpha Energy is taking a different path. The company is investing in domestic assembly and design.
Salpha produces solar home systems that range from 150Wp for households to 100kWp for small businesses, all built and optimized in Nigeria.
This local production is rare in sub-Saharan Africa’s clean tech space. It’s a powerful symbol of energy sovereignty — a shift where Africans are not just consumers of global energy products but also creators and manufacturers.
Driving Job Creation and Local Growth
With this fresh investment, Salpha plans to expand its assembly plant and create at least 200 new direct jobs, with 90% of those roles going to young Nigerians.
The company also plans to grow its network of 2,400 merchants across the country. These numbers are more than statistics — they represent an emerging economy built around sustainable, locally made energy solutions.
A Female-Led Blueprint for Clean Tech
Salpha Energy is led by Sandra Chukwudozie, a former United Nations professional and a trailblazer in the male-dominated energy manufacturing space.
According to POCIT, Salpha is the only female-founded solar assembly company in sub-Saharan Africa.
Sandra’s leadership goes beyond representation. She is focused on creating affordable, resilient, and modular solar systems specifically designed for the African market and its unique challenges.
Beyond Electricity: Dignity and Opportunity
“This isn’t just about electricity,” says Sandra Chukwudozie. “It’s about dignity, productivity, and opportunity.”
For the more than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa who still lack access to electricity, power isn’t a luxury. It’s a gateway to healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion.
Salpha’s mission is to make that gateway accessible — and to build it from within.
Strategic Capital That Supports Local Innovators
All On, the Shell-backed investor behind the $1.3 million funding round, is offering more than financial support. They are providing local currency financing, which is crucial in Nigeria’s volatile exchange market.
“We back indigenous innovators building for impact,” says All On CEO Caroline Eboumbou. Salpha’s work combines clean energy, local manufacturing, gender inclusion, and job creation in a sustainable, scalable way.
A Future Built in Africa, for Africa
For Africa to meet its sustainable development goals and close its electricity access gap, the continent must move from simply consuming technology to creating and manufacturing it.
Salpha Energy is proving that this shift is not only possible — it’s already underway.
This investment is about more than powering homes. It’s about powering a generation of African-made innovation that is built for the continent, by the continent.