About the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria

The Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN) was founded in 1980 to promote the widespread utilization of solar and other renewable energy technologies. The society organizes its National Solar Energy Forum (NASEF) annually. The forum is aimed at providing a platform for meeting and interaction between stakeholders in renewable energy research and development, business, and policy-making, and also to assess the level of penetrations of technology as well as ongoing development in renewable energy.

The Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN) was inaugurated in March 1980 at the Project Development Institute (PRODA) Enugu. By 11th July of the same year, the Society was officially launched at a brief ceremony performed by the then Deputy Governor of old Anambra State, Engr. A.S. Umenyi, assisted by the then Honourable Commissioner for Technology, Imo State, Chief Oji O. Okereke. Some of the pioneer members of the Society included such prominent people as Prof. A.O.E. Animalu (foundation President of the SESN), Prof. G.O. Ezekwe (Director, PRODA, Enugu), Prof. C.C.O. Ezeilo (University of Nigeria), Prof. U.A. Akinsote (University of Lagos), Prof. R.I, Salawu (University of Lagos), Late Prof. N. I. Ngoka (formerly of Obafemi Awolowo University Ife and later ESUT, Enugu), Prof. A. T. Sulaiman (Past President, SESN and former Vice Chancellor Federal University of Technology, Yola) and a host of others. During the inaugural meeting and conference of the Society in 1980, technical papers were presented. This inaugural meeting and conference consequently gave birth to the National Solar Energy Forum (NASEF), which, since 1980, has been held annually in several places in Nigeria.