The ASEAN Power Grid is about inclusion, not just about interconnection. For Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), that inclusion is key to achieving universal energy access. She explains why regional cooperation is vital to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7. This calls for affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all by 2030.

Mrs Ogunbiyi highlights how stronger ASEAN partnerships are needed to build the systems today that will power a more inclusive energy tomorrow. Watch her interview at:

About Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi is the CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. She was recognised in the 2024 TIME100 Climate list as one of the 20 titans in climate. She is the recipient of the First-Class Order of Zayed II from the UAE President in recognition of her contribution to the success of the climate conference, COP28.

She also received the Global Female Leadership Impact (GFLI) Award in 2024. Additionally, she was awarded the Energy Institute President's Award for 2023, in recognition of her continued role in solving critical global issues. She has been recognised as a trailblazer in her field by Reuters' Trailblazing Women in Climate and Reuters' Trailblazing Women in Energy, among others.

With Mrs Ogunbiyi at the helm, SEforALL has entered into working relationships with over 200 partners. It has supported over 90 countries globally. It has also secured commitments of more than US$1.4 trillion in energy finance. This has been achieved through programmes such as Universal Energy Facility, Powering Healthcare, Women and Youth at the Forefront, Cooling for All, and Clean Cooking. This has also been achieved via innovative initiatives such as UN Energy Compacts, Energy Transition Plans, Universal Integrated Energy Plans, the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), and the Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative (REMI), among many others.

Through her leadership, SEforALL has grown its global influence and country support. It is providing clear pathways to accelerate progress towards universal energy access, ending energy poverty, and advancing the global just and equitable energy transition. SEforALL collaborates closely with the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB), The Rockefeller Foundation and Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) on Mission 300. This is the ambitious initiative to electrify 300 million Africans by 2030.

Mrs Ogunbiyi is the Co-Chair of the Mission 300 Joint Working Group (JWG). SEforALL supports Mission 300's operational framework and strategy through this JWG. It also collaborates with partner countries to mobilise local financing and improve energy access planning data, enhancing the overall initiative's success.

Prior to joining SEforALL, Mrs Ogunbiyi was the first female Managing Director of the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency. There, she initiated the Nigerian Electrification Project, a US$550 million facility. This facility is a joint World Bank and African Development Bank programme. To date, it has provided energy access to over 8 million people across Nigeria. She also conceptualised the Energizing Economies Initiative, estimated to impact 1.2 million small and medium-sized enterprises.

Before joining the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), Mrs Ogunbiyi was the first female General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board. Under her leadership, over 100 megawatts of decentralised energy projects were completed. These projects supply electricity to Lagos State hospitals, schools, and government facilities.

Mrs Ogunbiyi currently serves as a member of the World Bank's Private Sector Investment Lab. She is also a member of the European Investment Bank Climate and Environment Advisory Council, and a member of the Global Leadership Council (GLC) of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). She serves as an Advisory Board member of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.

In addition, Mrs Ogunbiyi is a member of the Development Advisory Council of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and a member of the Clean Cooking Alliance Advisory Board. She is also a member of the WHO High Level Coalition on Energy (HEPA), and an advisory council member of the Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy Advisory Council (WISER). She was part of the COP28 Advisory Committee and was Co-Chair of the COP26 Energy Transition Council (ETC).

She is a global leader and advocate for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mrs Ogunbiyi is passionate about achieving SDG7, which calls for access to reliable, affordable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030.