Nigeria Leads Africa in Energy Transition—WEF Report

Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s best-performing nation in the global energy transition rankings, climbing to 61st place globally in the 2025 Energy Transition Index (ETI) released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

This marks a significant leap of 48 positions from last year’s report, with Nigeria scoring 54.8 points—an improvement attributed to regulatory reforms, increased investment in renewable energy, and tailored local strategies that support green development.

The index, developed in partnership with global consultancy Accenture, evaluates 118 countries using 43 indicators grouped under three categories—energy security, environmental sustainability, and equity. It also assesses five readiness pillars: regulation, financing, innovation, infrastructure, and human capital.

Each nation receives a score ranging from 0 to 100, with system performance weighted at 60% and transition readiness at 40%. Nigeria’s rise in the index is the most notable on the African continent this year.

Tunisia followed closely in second place among African nations, ranking 62nd globally, while Namibia took third at 64th. Other African countries in the top 10 include Mauritius (69th), Morocco (70th), Egypt (74th), South Africa (79th), Kenya (88th), Algeria (89th), and Côte d’Ivoire (90th).

The report credited Africa’s general progress to growing political will and increasing capital inflows. However, it noted that disparities remain due to infrastructure gaps, energy access limitations, and institutional weaknesses in several countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa posted an average score of 48.8, while the Middle East and North Africa region averaged 52.1.

Globally, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark retained the top three positions, driven by decades of policy consistency, advanced infrastructure, and a strong focus on clean energy. Other top performers include Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Latvia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal.

The 2025 edition of the ETI shows a rebound in global energy transition progress after years of stagnation. Sixty-five percent of participating countries improved their overall scores, with 28% advancing across all key dimensions.

While wealthier nations face growing hurdles such as rising energy costs and grid challenges, emerging economies in Europe and Asia are rapidly advancing, fueled by infrastructure upgrades and strategic reforms.

As Nigeria solidifies its leadership position in Africa’s green transition, the report also signals growing potential for clean energy jobs and long-term sustainability.

By Makinde oyinkansola| June 18, 2025