Dr Sanusi Mohammed Ohiare (38 years old, North Central Nigeria) is a politician, Economist, Renewable Energy policy maker, rural electrification expert and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is the former Executive Director of Rural Electrification Fund (REF) of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria under the Federal Ministry of Power. He is one of the few young Nigerians who had the opportunity to serve on the executive of a federal government agency just at the age of 32 appointed by president Muhammadu Buhari in line with the government’s commitment to transform the power sector in the country.
His appointment to serve on the board and member of the management team brought a great weight of responsibility on him to quickly metamorphose from the result oriented fast paced private sector to bureaucratic slow interest ridden public sector.
Dr. Sanusi Ohiare was born on the 6th of March 1985 into the family of Senator Mohammed Ohiare, a reputed politician and statesman who has been a major contributor to Nigeria’s politics over the decades including the development of democratic processes in Kogi state. Sanusi hails from Adavi local government area of Kogi sate but has spent his early years in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory where he was born.
Sanusi holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he graduated with a Second Class Honours, Upper Division (2.1) in 2006. He later attended the renowned Centre for Energy, Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom, where he obtained a Master of Science degree in Energy Studies, with Specialization in Energy Finance in 2011.
Due to his age old desire and quest to transform rural electrification in Nigeria he decided to major his academic qualification in Rural Energy Development with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Rural Energy Development from the Institute for Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD), De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom.Sanusi has worked in the Rural Electrification industry for over a decade within some of the top players and regulatory bodies including the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET), Sustainability, Policy and Innovative Development Research (Spider) Solutions, Federal Capital Territory Administration-Abuja and other private companies in various capacities.
He has contributed to the literary community with several publications for peer-reviewed articles and a textbook chapter on rural electrification with bias to planning, technology options and financing for policy makers in Nigeria. He was part of the presidential committee that reviewed the rural electrification strategy document for Nigeria in 2013, and also, part of the team that developed the Mini-grid regulations 2016 for strategic implementation of the policy framework. Sanusi who had endeared the interest of key stakeholders in the sector by his stint and commitment to hard work earning him the appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the financial strong room of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA); Rural Electrification Fund.
Prior to the appointment he worked with the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), co-funded by the European Union and German Government, also as National Advisor on Rural Electrification under the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP). He led planning and management team for Rural Electrification Agency and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) by providing technical support and data management.
He also supported the development of mini-grid Pilot Projects and coordinated the Northern states of the programme namely; Sokoto, Niger and Plateau.
As the top executive and key administrator of the Rural Electrification Fund, Nigeria, he has been known for contributing enormously to the industry and various achievements have been recorded since his appointment in 2017. The fund which is administered by the agency has been judiciously deployed nationwide in facilitating various initiatives such as 12 mini grid projects, 19,000 solar home systems for rural Nigeria and over 50,000 jobs created through its programmes.
Dr Ohiare whose outstanding career has been on the rise did not focus solely on technocracy but participated actively in politics at state and national levels under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Also considered one of the budding youths making a strong bargain for greater inclusion of young people into national politics he served at various sub-committees of the party.
As the momentum for the 2023 general elections grew stronger, he is one the young party faithful who organized various summits, forums and dialogues for young politicians to connect. He has tirelessly empowered young innovators, engaged with social influencers and young public appointees in ensuring greater acceptance of the party.
Dr Ohiare is a quiet, soft spoken and visionary who believes in timeless service to humanity.