Schneider Electric is positioning itself at the center of Nigeria’s shift toward automated and sustainable energy systems, using its 2025 Innovation Day to push deeper into one of Africa’s fastest-growing power markets.
The French industrial technology group will convene government officials, utilities, and corporate executives in Lagos on November 11 for its annual Innovation Day, themed “Competitive Advantage Through Automation and Sustainability.” The showcase aims to demonstrate how digital tools, including artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven platforms, can reduce emissions and improve reliability in a country where power shortages routinely hinder economic growth.
The event underscores Schneider Electric’s push to expand its footprint in Nigeria and capture rising demand for smarter energy infrastructure. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, loses billions of dollars annually to unreliable power supply, according to the World Bank. Businesses rely heavily on diesel generators, leaving significant room for investment in grid modernization, distributed energy, and energy management technologies.
“This Innovation Day provides a platform to exchange ideas, inspire collaboration, and accelerate innovation that makes energy more reliable, efficient, and accessible to all,” said Ajibola Akindele, Schneider Electric Nigeria’s country president.
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Top government officials, industry executives and energy stakeholders are expected to attend, including a representative of Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adedayo Olowoniyi, and Laurent Favier, France’s consul general in Nigeria. Utility executives such as Folake Soetan, chief executive of Ikeja Electric — one of Nigeria’s largest power distribution companies, are also slated to participate.
The company plans live demonstrations and interactive sessions to show how automation and digital systems can optimize industrial operations and cut energy consumption. Schneider executives will detail regional expansion plans, including Walid Sheta, zone president for the Middle East and Africa, who will highlight the company’s strategy in emerging markets; and Canninah Dladla, cluster president for English-speaking Africa, who will speak on the continent’s role in accelerating the global energy transition.
Beyond product demonstrations, the event includes a showcase of young Nigerian energy innovators, reflecting Schneider Electric’s effort to strengthen local talent pipelines and foster partnerships with academia and startups. The company will also mark its 25th year operating in Nigeria.
Schneider Electric’s broader strategy aligns with global trends. As industries rethink how energy is produced and consumed, driven by net-zero commitments, rising power costs, and supply volatility, digitalisation is emerging as a competitive advantage. For companies operating in Nigeria, automation offers a way to mitigate power instability and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
“Innovation Day Nigeria is not just another gathering,” Akindele said. “It is a movement that brings together technology, talent, and purpose, where ideas become action.”
For Schneider Electric, that movement translates into a clear business opportunity: a multibillion-dollar Nigerian energy market hungry for efficiency, reliability and sustainable growth.
