Ecobank Nigeria has been selected as one of the key Nigerian banks to participate in the GET.Invest Enabling Domestic Green Energy (EDGE) Finance Programme. The initiative, aimed at strengthening local financing capacity for renewable energy, is part of broader efforts to support Nigeria’s energy transition and sustainable development goals.
The bank made the announcement on Tuesday during a formal event at its headquarters in Lagos.
Launched in Nigeria in February 2025, the GET.Invest EDGE Finance Programme is co-funded by the European Union, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Austria. The programme aims to support financial institutions across Africa by providing tailored technical assistance, capacity building, and coaching services to enhance their ability to fund clean and renewable energy projects.
Speaking at the event, Country Coordinator for GET.Invest Nigeria, Mr Lawrence Edeke, explained that the initiative focuses on building long-term capacity in Nigeria’s financial sector to unlock investment in renewable energy.
“The EDGE Finance Programme is about strengthening local institutions and enabling them to play a critical role in Nigeria’s energy transition. Ecobank’s selection reflects its strong commitment to sustainable finance,” Edeke said.
Also speaking, Kofo Oduntan, EDGE Finance Advisor, highlighted the criteria for Ecobank’s inclusion. “Ecobank was selected after a rigorous evaluation process involving expressions of interest and interviews. What stood out was the bank’s clarity of purpose in green energy finance, its alignment with institutional goals, and strong internal commitment from senior leadership,” she said.
Oduntan added that Ecobank is well-positioned to become a leading driver of renewable energy financing under the programme.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Biyi Olagbami, expressed pride in the bank’s selection, stating that it affirms Ecobank’s role as a pioneer in sustainable banking.
“Our participation in the EDGE Finance Programme reinforces our position as a front-runner in sustainable finance in Nigeria. It will enhance our capacity to design bespoke green finance products, support national energy transition goals, and strengthen our identity as an environmentally responsible financial institution,” Olagbami said.
The bank plans to leverage the technical expertise and global partnerships provided by GET.Invest to create more innovative lending solutions targeted at renewable energy developers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating off-grid and mini-grid systems.
GET.Invest had earlier noted that Nigeria’s persistent energy deficit is a major impediment to economic growth, with estimated annual losses of between ₦7tn and ₦10tn. The brunt of this impact is borne by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which struggle with the high costs of self-generated power and unreliable electricity supply.
The inclusion of Ecobank in the programme is expected to help bridge this financing gap, enabling more Nigerian businesses and communities to access clean, affordable, and reliable energy.
GET.Invest is a European programme that mobilises investments in decentralised renewable energy. Its EDGE Finance service specifically targets domestic banks in sub-Saharan Africa to help them better understand and fund renewable energy projects in their local markets.
With this partnership, Ecobank joins a growing number of Nigerian financial institutions taking proactive steps toward green energy finance and sustainability.
