01/08/2026
When Communities Are Not Engaged, Even the Best Projects Can Fail.
A video currently circulating online shows a large number of solar panels being destroyed by community members. While the exact circumstances are still being discussed and some reports remain unverified, one thing is clear: critical infrastructure should never be destroyed because of fear, misinformation, or misunderstanding.
According to reports, some villagers believed the solar installation was responsible for a prolonged lack of rainfall after consulting traditional beliefs
β’ can you just IMAGINE...
Whether or not this account above is accurate, it highlights a challenge that development practitioners have faced for decades:
Projects do not succeed because they are technically sound alone-they succeed when communities understand, trust, and take ownership of them.
This is where the role of a Community Engagement Specialist or Agricultural Extension
Agent becomes indispensable.
Community engagement is not simply about informing people that a project is coming. It is a continuous process of:
Listening to community concerns.
Understanding local culture, beliefs, and
values.
Providing accurate and timely information.
Building trust with community leaders, youth,
women, and other stakeholders.
V Addressing rumours and misinformation before they spread.
V Creating a sense of ownership so that the community protects, rather than destroys, the project.
A solar power project is more than panels on the ground. It represents access to electricity, improved healthcare, better education, economic opportunities, security, and a pathway to sustainable development. Yet, without effective community engagement, even a multi-million-naira investment can be lost within hours.
Development is not only about engineering, construction, or technology. It is equally about people. Communities that are informed become partners.
Communities that are ignored may resist-even when the project is designed to improve their lives.
This is why every renewable energy, infrastructure, agricultural, and rural development project should include professional Community Engagement and Extension Services from planning through implementation and long-term operation.
Technology builds infrastructure. Community engagement builds acceptance. Together, they build lasting impact.
Invest in community engagement. Invest in sustainability. 020 661 5509
