Access to reliable electricity remains a huge challenge across many parts of Africa, but a new wave of founders is delivering clean power with smart, community-focused solutions.
Here are the top 5 African innovators driving that change, based on verified activity, innovation, and measurable reach as of Q4 2025:
— Sandra Chukwudozie (Nigeria): Founder & CEO of Salpha Energy. She assembles solar home systems locally, from small 150 Wp units to 100 kWp setups, and uses pay-as-you-go models to make clean power affordable for underserved homes and businesses.
— Tonye Irims (Nigeria / South Africa): Founder & Head of WiSolar. Irims’s company offers prepaid solar home systems for residential and commercial use, making solar electricity simple, accessible, and scalable.
— Evans Wadongo (Kenya): Engineer and entrepreneur behind GreenWize Energy and SDFA-Kenya. He has championed off-grid energy solutions in rural Kenya, delivering sustainable lighting and power while training and engaging local communities.
— Ifeanyi Orajaka (Nigeria): Founder & CEO of GVE Projects. Orajaka built one of Nigeria’s leading mini-grid companies, delivering solar-powered electricity to underserved communities and reducing reliance on diesel.
— Norah Magero (Kenya): Co‑founder & CEO of Drop Access. Magero designs solar-powered solutions like the “VacciBox”, a portable vaccine refrigerator, and provides scalable renewable energy systems for health and community access.
These entrepreneurs prove that electricity doesn’t need to come only from large, centralized grids, local innovation, smart finance models, and distributed solar power can transform how Africans access power.
Image Credit: Freepik
