Solar power is the way to long-term development for Africa, former United Kingdom parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for international development  Baroness Verma has said.

She says renewable energy is a growing sector, required for Africa, which is blessed with natural resources like the sun, which is critical for it [renewable energy].  

“Renewable energy is one of the biggest cost factors anywhere in the world, but we can help companies to reduce that, and it can be a great win for businesses and for the country at large,” Verma adds.

According to Verma, renewable energy can help the country generate jobs for long-term employment, as well as generate skills for the next generation. 

Rikki Verma, the Chief Executive Officer of Nexus Green Limited with Alfred Okidi, the Permanent Secretary ministry of water and environment. This was at the launch of Business to Business (B2B) campaign at Summit Residences in Naguru, Kampala City. Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba

She also serves as the chairperson of Nexus Green Ltd, a Ugandan-based solar energy company with offices at Kololo Ceremonial Independence Grounds in Kampala city.  

She was recently speaking at the launch of the company’s Business to Business (B2B) campaign at a dinner party organised by her son, Tarun Rikki Verma, who also serves as the Chief Executive and founder of Nexus Green in conjunction with his wife, Ashely Verma.  

The launch took place at the Summit Residences in Naguru, an upmarket luxury apartment hotel, owned by Mukesha Thakrar and his son Anuj Thakrar. The residence is Nexus Green’s flagship customer where it installed a 200kWh solar system to support its electricity supply.    

Nexus Green was also recently, on the directive of President Yoweri Museveni, given multibillion contracts to supply solar power to the defence ministry and develop solar-powered irrigation systems for the agriculture sector, through the water ministry.  

Nexus Green Limited chairperson, Baroness Verma, former UK Minister with company workers at the launch of Nexus Green Business to Business (B2B) campaign at Summit Residences in Naguru, Kampala City. Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba

Last month, on August 15, 2023, Verma led a delegation and met the President, who said that irrigation, supported by solar-powered water pumps is crucial since it would prolong the growing time of crops in Uganda.  

The group also briefed the president on the status of several projects that are ongoing in different parts of the country undertaken by Nexus Green, which include solar-powered irrigation, Lopei Multipurpose Dam as well as a collaboration with the defence ministry on solar power initiative, among others.

“We have contracts for solar irrigation across the country with the Ministry of Water and Environment, but the most important thing is that businesses look for stability, consistency and return on investments and the way to do this is to reduce their costs through cheap energy,” Baroness explained.  

The function was attended by United Kingdom deputy Trade Commissioner for Africa Jaya Choraria, water ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred Okidi Okot and Uganda Investment Authority director general Robert Mukiza. Others at the dinner were Sara Mulindwa, a Ugandan-born UK-based media personality, TV host and sexual health educator, among others.  

“There is a whole continent that is working and aiming to ‘Net Zero’, and zero is the word that is to be done by 2050, we are just part of that transition. We are privileged and pleased that we started here in Uganda,” Baronnes said. 

Net Zero is cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible.  

Rikki told his guests that through their dynamic campaigns and initiatives, Nexus Green was at the forefront, championing ‘Solar solution for a sustainable future’.  

He said, “Our recent collaboration with Jinko Solar has made us their exclusive distributor in Uganda, aligning Nexus Green with one of the solar industry’s titans”.  

“But this is not just about collaborations or business metrics. It is about a shared vision of sustainability and progress. Every business leader here knows the importance of operational efficiency and financial growth”.  

According to Rikki, Nexus Green celebrated a monumental year, 2022, with a turnover of $30m (approx. shillings 111 billion) in revenue.

“Our growth has been nothing short of impressive, with a consistent year-on-year growth rate of 25%, this is not just a statistic but a testament to our dedication, hard work and the trust that our partners and customers place in us,” he told the guests.

He said that solar energy was more than just an alternative energy source and it represents reduced carbon footprints, sustainable business practices, and a proactive step towards a healthier planet.

“We acknowledge the concerns about the initial costs of transitioning to solar, but Nexus Green is here to bridge that gap. With our financing and partnerships with local banks, we are ensuring that businesses of all sizes have the means to tap into the transformative power of solar energy at cheap interest rates,” he said.  

He said the company was not merely introducing a product and solution, but ‘igniting’ the Nexus Green Movement, which seeks to inspire businesses in Uganda.  

Okidi said that as a country, Uganda was extremely vulnerable to climate change and that it ranked 10th in the world.  

“So, we need to adapt to climate change and its impacts,” he explained, adding that in Uganda, only 1% of the country is under irrigation, out of three million hectares of land that the country can irrigate.  

“But with our partnership with Nexus Green, we are going to push that significantly,” he said and thanked Rikki for the resilience and Baroness for encouraging and pushing the ministry through.

He added, “What Nexus Green is championing is going to go a long way in helping us to reduce our footprints because it is going to make your business less expensive especially when you are exporting,” he explained.

Mukiza said Uganda must increase the production of land through solar-powered irrigation and attain predictable agriculture.

He said, “We should continue to invest in sustainable agriculture. We also need to invest in electricity that we need in 30 years, once we have electricity from sustainable sources, it enhances our development”.