At the 2025 International Conference of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Association Alliance (REEEA-A), Miss Precious Francis, Communication and Knowledge Management lead at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), highlighted how strategic communication and knowledge management are helping renewable energy startups move beyond the “pilot stage” to achieve long-term sustainability.
Speaking during Panel Discussion V: Communicating Transition – Media and Public Engagement, Francis emphasized that innovation without community connection or investor confidence is unsustainable.
“If you have an innovation and you have an investor but you don’t have a community, you have no people to serve,” she stated. “True communication isn’t just about social media, it’s about conversations like this, and how we frame and share outcomes in ways that matter.”
Francis explained that NCIC created the Green Startup Network, a platform for innovators who have tested solutions and engaged with communities. The network ensures these startups are investor-ready at all times.
“We make sure that innovators in our network are not still scrambling for market research or payment models when opportunities arrive. They are trained, vetted, and positioned to meet global standards,” she said.
As a non-profit, NCIC positions itself as a “middleman”, connecting investors with credible startups. According to Francis, investors are reassured because members of the Green Startup Network undergo rigorous training and due diligence.
She stressed that NCIC also prioritizes community engagement. Without community adoption, she warned, even the most brilliant innovation will fail.
“If you put a solution together but it’s not reaching people in rural areas or those who need it most, then who are you really talking to?” she asked.
To address this, NCIC facilitates focus group discussions and field engagements, in local communities. These sessions help innovators understand daily realities, what Francis described as living “a day in the life” of the end users, before rolling out solutions.
Her remarks underscored the importance of integrated communication strategies that balance investor expectations, innovation readiness, and grassroots acceptance in driving Nigeria’s energy transition.