ECOWAS Commission Appoints Gibson Okezie Obasi Executive Director of ECREEE By Raymond Enoch
The ECOWAS Commission has appointed Mr. Gibson Okezie Obasi as the new Executive Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), placing an experienced regional development professional at the helm of the institution responsible for advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency across West Africa.
ECREEE, in announcing the appointment, welcomed Obasi’s formal elevation to the position, describing him as a seasoned professional with more than two decades of experience spanning international development, institutional management, financial governance, programme leadership and regional integration.
Obasi’s appointment also marks a continuation of his leadership role within the ECOWAS energy institution, having previously served as Acting Executive Director of ECREEE.
In that capacity, he was involved in strategic planning, resource mobilisation, financial management and institutional strengthening, areas considered critical to the sustainability and effectiveness of regional energy programmes.
His previous responsibilities also included a significant role in the recovery and repositioning of the Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP), a major regional initiative designed to expand access to electricity through off-grid solutions.
According to ECREEE, Obasi’s contribution to the recovery and repositioning of ROGEP helped lay the foundation for the project, which is valued at approximately US$339 million.
The project forms part of broader regional efforts to address electricity access challenges, particularly through decentralised and renewable energy solutions capable of reaching communities that remain inadequately served by conventional electricity infrastructure.
With his formal appointment as Executive Director, Obasi is expected to provide strategic leadership to ECREEE at a time when energy access, energy security and the transition towards cleaner energy sources remain major development priorities across the West African region.
His mandate will include advancing ECREEE’s efforts towards sustainable energy access, energy security and a just energy transition across West Africa, according to the Centre.
The appointment further places emphasis on strengthening regional cooperation in renewable energy and energy efficiency as ECOWAS member states seek practical responses to persistent energy deficits, growing demand for electricity and the need for sustainable development.
For ECREEE, Obasi’s extensive experience within the ECOWAS system and his previous involvement in the management and repositioning of major regional programmes are expected to support the institution’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its role in the West African energy transition.
The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency was established to contribute to the achievement of increased access to modern, reliable and sustainable energy services across the region while promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency as components of regional development.
Obasi now assumes leadership of the Centre with a mandate focused on translating these regional objectives into stronger programmes and initiatives capable of improving energy access and supporting sustainable development across West Africa.
