Former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose is inaugurated as Chairman of the Governing Board of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) after accepting the appointment by President Bola Tinubu. The inauguration takes place in Abuja on Friday, carried out by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, alongside the appointment of other board members. Reports say Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta are among the newly inaugurated non-executive directors, and that Abba Aliyu assumes the role of Managing Director of the agency.

At the ceremony, Fayose thanks President Tinubu and the government for the opportunity, and pledges to provide what he describes as the political will and resources needed for REA’s short- and long-term programmes. He says the board will focus on expanding electricity access beyond generation metrics, targeting grassroots energy challenges and ensuring communities experience tangible benefits.

Minister Joseph Tegbe urges the board to prioritise people-centred outcomes, such as the number of communities and citizens gaining electricity. He describes REA’s role in using tools including mini-grids and solar home systems, and calls for transparency, innovation, value for money, strategic oversight, and partnerships to support Nigeria’s broader electricity sector reforms.