25 episodes

Africa’s Big Switch is a podcast that aims to identify current and future solutions to complex problems on the African continent. Examples of such problems include: Climate Change, Homelessness, Poverty, Political Instability, Famine, Floods etc.Our first season sheds light and sparks conversation around the future of energy in Africa.Why Energy?Modern society depends on reliable and affordable energy services to function smoothly and to develop equitably. A well-established energy system supports all sectors from medicine and education to agriculture, infrastructure, communications and high-technology. However, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), there are over 770 million people in the world today without access to electricity, 77% of which are in Sub-saharan Africa. The Sustainable Development Goal 7 of the UN Agenda, aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. Given we are only a few years to 2030, we explore the progress, challenges and opportunities for achieving this goal across

Africa's Big Switch (ABS‪)‬ Bolaji Akinola-Alli

    • Business

Africa’s Big Switch is a podcast that aims to identify current and future solutions to complex problems on the African continent. Examples of such problems include: Climate Change, Homelessness, Poverty, Political Instability, Famine, Floods etc.Our first season sheds light and sparks conversation around the future of energy in Africa.Why Energy?Modern society depends on reliable and affordable energy services to function smoothly and to develop equitably. A well-established energy system supports all sectors from medicine and education to agriculture, infrastructure, communications and high-technology. However, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), there are over 770 million people in the world today without access to electricity, 77% of which are in Sub-saharan Africa. The Sustainable Development Goal 7 of the UN Agenda, aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. Given we are only a few years to 2030, we explore the progress, challenges and opportunities for achieving this goal across

    ABS E1: Electrifying Rural Communities in Nigeria

    ABS E1: Electrifying Rural Communities in Nigeria

    Using Nigeria as a case study, I had a conversation with Bolaji Onalaja, an energy and technology consultant,  to understand the current situation in Nigeria, challenges and available opportunities for renewable energy in ensuring access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all by 2030. 


    This episode was hosted by Bolaji Akinola-Alli
    Co-hosted by Demilade Adeyemi and Daniel Ogbonna


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    • 39 min
    ABS E2: Lessons Learnt from India's Approach to Rural Electrification

    ABS E2: Lessons Learnt from India's Approach to Rural Electrification

    On this episode, I had a conversation with Amit Saraogi and Anshuman Lath to learn how India was able to grow its electricity access from 60% to almost 100% of its population in two decades.
    What can African leaders learn from this? What roles do the private sector and public sector play in providing clean, affordable and sustainable electricity access for all? 
    Please have a listen.

    Amit Saraogi is the Co-founder and CEO of Oorja Development Solutions Limited, a mission-driven company working at the intersection between clean energy and sustainable agriculture. It provides affordable irrigation, milling and cooling services to smallholder farmers.

    Anshuman Lath is the CO-founder of Gram Oorja Solutions Private Limited. Gram Oorja fulfils the electricity, cooking fuel and water needs of remote, tribal communities. With over 70 mini-grid projects in India, Gram Oorja has contributed to promoting energy access in the southern parts of India.

    This episode was hosted by Bolaji Akinola-Alli 
    Co-hosted by Daniel Ogbonna
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    • 45 min
    ABS E3: Financing Rural Electrification in Africa

    ABS E3: Financing Rural Electrification in Africa

    We spoke to Collins Kuindwa, an investment officer at SunFunder in Nairobi,  to understand how rural electrification is financed in Africa. We explored the methods of financing, their associated risks and ways to overcome them.

    SunFunder is a mission-driven solar finance business based in Nairobi unlocking debt capital for solar energy in emerging markets, where over 2.2 billion people live without access to reliable energy.

    SunFunder has helped over 10 million people gain access to clean, reliable energy through its blended debt funds.
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    • 39 min
    ABS E4: The Largely Unspoken Truths About Clean Cooking

    ABS E4: The Largely Unspoken Truths About Clean Cooking

    Did you know?
    Over 3 billion people live without access to clean cooking facilities in the world today.
    According to the IEA, sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 490,000 premature deaths per year linked to household air pollution from the lack of access to clean cooking facilities, with women and children being the worst affected. The unsustainable harvesting of fuelwood also contributes to deforestation.
    Africa's Big Switch podcast has so far focused on rural electrification for its first season. However we believe that it is also important to spread awareness on the clean cooking challenges and opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa. 
    On this episode, we spoke to Ronan Ferguson from the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) who gave us an overview of the major challenges to achieving clean cooking and its impact on economic and social development in Africa. 
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    • 33 min
    ABS E5: Does Oil & Gas Have a Role to Play in Africa’s Future?

    ABS E5: Does Oil & Gas Have a Role to Play in Africa’s Future?

    The Oil and Gas industry has been a notorious contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which has contributed to climate change.

    But does oil & gas have a role to play in the energy transition in Africa?

    If so, how?

    To explore this, we sat down with James Makinde, the General Manager of Ardova Plc. With over 15 years experience in oil and gas industry, James now leads business development into sustainable energy solutions in areas of clean mobility and renewables amongst others.
    Please have a listen!
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    • 48 min
    ABS E6: Demystifying the Nuclear Industry in Africa

    ABS E6: Demystifying the Nuclear Industry in Africa

    There is often this mysterious cloud surrounding the nuclear industry with a lot of false perceptions on its safety and role in contributing towards a sustainable energy future.

    On this episode of Africa's Big Switch, we had a conversation with Princess Mthombeni, a nuclear communication specialist with over 10 years experience, to help us demystify some of the myths surrounding the nuclear industry in Africa. 

    Some of the questions we explored include: 
    The safety of nuclear energy. Is it actually safe?What is the key to widespread adoption of nuclear energy in Africa? Does Africa currently posses the the skills to safely run and maintain a nuclear plant? Find out on this episode!
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    • 37 min

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