Wayne is the energy lead for RMI’s Global South Program in Nigeria, working with the private sector, the government, and utilities in Nigeria and West Africa to scale the distributed energy resources (DER) and identify electrification opportunities to stimulate demand.

Background

Prior to joining RMI’s Africa Energy Program, Wayne provided consultancy services to the on-grid and off-grid sectors in Nigeria. He founded WEC, an independent consultancy practice focusing its advisory services on improving energy reliability and energy access in Nigeria. As an advisor in the energy market, Wayne supported the deployment of decentralized electricity resources (DER) to augment grid supply by setting up a DER desk for a distribution company, providing access to finance to mini-grid developers, and acting as the transaction advisor for developing interconnected mini-grids in peri-urban and commercial areas, including the deployment of the first 1MW utility-enabled DER in Nigeria.

Due to his expertise in Nigeria’s sustainability market, Wayne provided his consultancy services to the World Bank by leading a deep-dive study on the off-grid renewable energy sector in Nigeria to increase investment in commercial clusters. His past advisory work also includes setting up an energy management unit within a distribution company to support the energy dispatch process for grid augmentation solutions and reduction of aggregated technical, commercial, and collection losses. Wayne was also an advisor for AFDB, lead transaction advisor for NESP GIZ Nigeria, and power market advisor for DFID-funded infrastructure advisory program in Nigeria.

Education

MSc, International Management, Henley Business School, UK

BEng (Honors), Electronic Engineering, University of Reading, UK