Energy Leader Voices: Olusegun Odunaiya

This week, we caught up with Olusegun Odunaiya, MD of Havenhill Synergy Limited, a clean-tech utility company that uses solar energy to power rural and urban areas. He shared insights on Havenhill’s impact, which includes electrifying communities and driving industrial growth.

Briefly introduce your company (origin, footprint, focus).

Olusegun Odunaiya: Havenhill Synergy Limited is a clean-tech utility company that uses solar energy to generate clean, safe, cost-effective, and sustainable electricity in rural and urban areas. We believe in the power of the sun and other renewable sources to power Africa’s infrastructural development.

Headquartered in Nigeria, Havenhill’s operations are centered around six key verticals:

1. Energizing Communities – Providing sustainable energy solutions to underserved rural and urban communities.

2. Energizing Commerce – Delivering solar energy solutions for small businesses, shops, and offices within mini-grid host communities.

3. Energizing Industries (Commercial & Industrial Solar) – Deploying customized solar solutions for factories, warehouses, and industrial facilities. Havenhill has already deployed over 2MW of projects in this space.

4. Energizing Healthcare—We Electrify healthcare facilities to ensure uninterrupted medical services. With 2MW of solar capacity, we have powered over 60 healthcare centers.

5. Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) – Designing and implementing high-quality energy solutions tailored to project needs.

6. Value-Added Services – Supporting productive energy use through initiatives like Farm Fuse and appliance financing schemes.

Share your company’s biggest achievement in the past 12 months.

Olusegun Odunaiya: Over the past year, Havenhill Synergy has significantly expanded its energy footprint, serving the electricity needs of over 300,000 people. This achievement includes deploying new solar mini-grids, enhancing commercial and industrial solar adoption, and expanding our impact on healthcare facilities. Through these efforts, we have enabled communities and businesses to access reliable and affordable electricity, fostering economic growth and improving the overall quality of life in underserved areas.

Key milestones you aim to achieve in the next 24 months.

• Deploying 20MW of solar solutions to serve businesses and rural communities.

• Expanding our footprint in the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) solar sector.

• Increasing mini-grid deployment to power more underserved communities.

• Expanding our operations to West Africa.

Major industry challenges from your perspective.

• Financing constraints for renewable energy projects, particularly for rural electrification.

• Regulatory hurdles that slow down project implementation.

• Supply chain disruptions that affect equipment availability and costs.

• Consumer affordability challenges, limiting the adoption of energy solutions

• Fluctuating exchange rates

Thoughts on governance improvements to accelerate energy access.

• Streamlining regulatory processes to enable faster project approvals.

• Expanding incentives and subsidies for mini-grid and off-grid solutions.

• Encouraging public-private partnerships to drive investment in the sector.

• Enhancing grid reliability to complement distributed energy solutions.

Biggest threats and opportunities in the energy sector.

Olusegun Odunaiya: The biggest threats in the energy sector include policy inconsistencies and foreign exchange fluctuation. However, there are also immense opportunities. The increasing demand for clean energy, advancements in energy storage, and growing interest in climate financing create avenues for expansion. Also, innovative business models such as pay-as-you-go solar and energy-as-a-service are reshaping energy access, making electricity more affordable and scalable for underserved communities and businesses.

A little about your personal background and journey into the sector.

Olusegun Odunaiya: Like many children with big dreams, I aspired to become an aeronautical engineer—or at the very least, a pilot. I was so passionate about this dream that, until the age of 10, I insisted on wearing pilot-like attire for every birthday celebration. However, life had a different plan for me—one that was driven by purpose and destiny.

My journey into the energy space began somewhat unexpectedly. The only available path to securing university admission that year was through studying Physics and Solar Energy. Otherwise, I would have had to wait another year, making it six years since finishing high school. Initially, I didn’t fully understand my purpose in this field, but by my second year, I found my passion—and I’m grateful I took this path.

The journey was not without challenges, but perseverance led the way. We began in 2010 as a power backup solutions company, and in 2017, we pivoted to rural electrification. Since then, we have continued to grow, bringing energy solutions to communities, businesses, and industries that need them the most.

What do you enjoy most and find most challenging about your role?

Olusegun Odunaiya: What I enjoy most about my role is seeing the transformative impact of energy access on communities, businesses, and industries. It is incredibly fulfilling to witness how reliable electricity can improve livelihoods, drive economic growth, and enhance healthcare delivery. I also appreciate the opportunity to innovate, collaborate with a passionate team, and scale solutions that make a tangible difference. However, like any business, the role comes with its challenges, including managing the operations of a rapidly growing company, external economic factors, and other industry complexities. Despite these hurdles, the drive to create sustainable energy solutions keeps me motivated and committed to overcoming them.