In the race to bridge Africa’s massive electricity access gap, most solutions have been externally sourced — imported products, donor-backed models, and pilot programs managed far from the communities they aim to serve. But Salpha Energy, a Nigerian clean energy startup, is breaking that pattern by building power solutions for Africa, in Africa, by Africans — and now, with a $1.3 million boost from Shell-backed investor All On, it’s scaling that vision to the next level.
This isn’t just a clean energy story. It’s a reshoring revolution.
Local Manufacturing as Energy Sovereignty
While many African solar companies still rely heavily on imported kits and third-party integration, Salpha Energy is investing in domestic assembly and design. Its solar home systems — ranging from 150Wp for households to 100kWp for small businesses — are built and optimized on Nigerian soil.
This local production capability is not only rare in the sub-Saharan clean tech landscape, it’s also symbolic. It represents a step toward energy sovereignty, where Africans aren’t just consumers of global energy solutions but creators, manufacturers, and innovators.
With this new investment, Salpha plans to expand its assembly plant, create at least 200 new direct jobs (90% of which will go to young Nigerians), and increase its network of 2,400 merchants. These are not just employment statistics — they represent a new economic layer built around sustainable infrastructure.
A Female-Led Blueprint for Clean Tech
At the helm is Sandra Chukwudozie, a UN alumna and a rarity in the male-dominated energy manufacturing space. Salpha Energy is the only female-founded solar assembly company in sub-Saharan Africa, according to POCIT.
Sandra’s leadership brings more than representation — it brings a design mindset grounded in context. By building systems that are not only modular and battery-integrated, but also designed for affordability and resilience, Salpha is creating solar products tailored to the African market’s economic and environmental realities.
Beyond Electricity: Dignity and Development
“This isn’t just about electricity,” says Chukwudozie. “It’s about dignity, productivity, and opportunity.”
Indeed, for the over 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still off-grid, electricity isn’t a luxury — it’s a gateway to healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion. Salpha’s mission is to localize that gateway and unlock it from within.
Strategic Capital with a Local Lens
All On, the Shell-backed investor behind the $1.3 million round, isn’t just providing cash — it’s providing local currency financing. That’s critical in a market where dollar-based inputs and currency fluctuations have stifled many energy startups.
“We back indigenous innovators building for impact,” says All On CEO Caroline Eboumbou. With Salpha, that impact is multilayered: clean energy, local manufacturing, gender inclusion, and job creation — all wrapped in a scalable business model.
The Future: Made in Africa, For Africa
If Africa is to meet its sustainable development goals and electrify its future, it must move from consumption to creation. Salpha Energy is proving that this shift is not only possible — it’s already happening.
This investment isn’t just about powering homes. It’s about powering a new generation of African-owned, African-built innovation.
