Growing up in the region, founder and CEO Habiba Ali saw families around her forced to use polluting and dangerous kerosene lamps. Inspired to tackle this problem, she created Sosai in 2010, initially distributing solar lamps and cookstoves that cut indoor air pollution. In 2022, Sosai expanded its work to solar minigrids.  

Today, the company’s flagship approach is the Climate Smart Village – which creates minigrids that enable local people, particularly women, to earn a better living. Women in the region who want to start a business often face significant cultural barriers. As well as providing them with affordable energy, training and access to finance, Sosai works intensely to change attitudes across communities, and support women to become entrepreneurs. Habiba’s own story helps to persuade village leaders of the success girls and women can achieve.  

Energy costs halved for local small business

The economic impacts of Sosai’s minigrids can be enormous. For example, with solar-powered drying equipment, women who make a living preserving food have lowered drying times from 10 to 3 days – while millers have seen their daily energy costs cut in half. The social impact of energy access can be huge too. A new medical diagnostic centre in the village of Kalong, which is powered by a Sosai minigrid system, has saved people from long journeys to clinics elsewhere – for many, the price of travel had doubled the cost of getting treatment.

Sosai’s projects in rural communities sits alongside work selling clean energy products, such as lights and solar home systems, to urban consumers. Its rural minigrids alone have already brought power to more than 4,000 customers. This number is set to grow through Sosai’s collaboration with national and global partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and Nigeria’s rural electrification agency.

Securing these partnerships is a notable achievement for a local company, especially in a region where women are traditionally excluded from entrepreneurial activity – and will see national electrification projects benefit from Sosai’s inclusive approach and local knowledge. 

Visit Sosai’s website here.

Check out the rest of our fantastic winners from the 2025 Ashden Awards here.

Sponsoring the 2025 Ashden Award for Breaking Barriers (Global South):