Onome Amuge
Nigeria’s reputation as the “Giant of Africa” has been questioned due to its unreliable and inadequate power supply. Many households and businesses rely on generators to meet their electricity needs, which adds to the cost of doing business and reduces the country’s global competitiveness.
The power crisis has had a significant negative impact on businesses, which have had to reduce operating hours or capacity during the night. This has affected restaurants, shops, and factories that rely on power to operate. Additionally, it has posed a security risk, as the lack of effective lighting systems has contributed to increased crime and accidents in the dark.
In an effort to improve the state of Nigeria’s power sector, especially when it comes to lighting, Salvi Lighting Nigeria Limited, a solar lighting company, recently launched its range of outdoor solar lighting systems at The George Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, showcasing Salvi Lighting’s commitment to revolutionising urban spaces through innovative lighting solutions.
The theme of the event, “Powering Nigeria’s Economic Growth: Smart Lights for Safety and Nigeria’s Development,” reflected the importance of sustainable and efficient lighting solutions in supporting Nigeria’s economic growth.
Salvi Lighting Nigeria presented its vision and value proposition, highlighting its successful track record in other countries, including Rwanda, Spain, Cameroon, and Kenya.
Olatunji Adebayo, CEO of Salvi Lighting Nigeria Limited, spoke passionately about the company’s commitment to lighting up Nigeria. He emphasized the importance of consistent lighting for productivity, environmental enhancement, and improved security. He also highlighted the significant job opportunities that the project would bring, with plans to establish regional warehouses and offices across Nigeria.
 ‘‘Our core philosophy revolves around empowering each partner country to develop localized intelligent public lighting solutions by establishing factories to meet local demand. Beyond creating numerous employment opportunities in Nigeria, our primary aspiration is to actively contribute to the nation’s growth in alignment with the development and economic objectives of the Nigerian government,’’ he said.
Olatunji further explained that Salvi Lighting Nigeria’s planned 10-hectare project has the potential to create 500 to 1,000 jobs, and that the company is planning to open regional warehouses and offices across the country. This is thanks to funding from the Spanish government, which recognises the importance of sustainable lighting in developing countries.
Salvi Lighting Barcelona, the parent company of Salvi Lighting Nigeria, has a 100-year history of providing outdoor lighting solutions, and has a proven track record of success in Spain, Senegal, Kenya, and now Nigeria.
Javier Elizalde, the CEO of Salvi Lighting Barcelona,, also addressed the durability of the company’s products at the press conference. He noted that 80 per cent of solar lighting projects worldwide experience durability challenges after just two years, but that Salvi Lighting Nigeria’s products have a 10-year durability guarantee for their street and outdoor lighting systems. He pointed to the company’s successful track record in Barcelona, Senegal, Kenya, and other cities, towns, and parks as evidence of the durability of the products.
The launch event was attended by a number of key stakeholders, including Joana Adebayo, the executive director of Salvi Lighting Nigeria; Tomas Fernandez Garcia, the economic and commercial counselor of Spain in Nigeria;Etienne Marechal,international business development and intermediation expert.
Other key stakeholders in attendance included representatives from the Nigerian government, the banking sector, and the business community including Olumide Osunsino, Chairman of Megamound;Ken Ife, chief economic strategist, ECOWAS, & global economic consultant; Tayo Babalakin;Managing Partner · Consultants Collaborative Partnership (CPP); Felix Morka, group head of corporate banking, Zenith Bank Plc; members of the executive team at Zenith Bank HQ; and other esteemed stakeholders.
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