As 2026 dawns, vitality transition, renewables, electrical mobility options shall be outstanding in Nigeria. On account of this, Frederick Akpoghene, founder/CEO of JéGO Applied sciences Inc, speaks with auto journalists on native manufacturing, electrical mobility, renewable vitality, and the private experiences that formed his imaginative and prescient. Bennett Oghifo reviews
Let’s meet JéGO Applied sciences Inc.
JéGO, is a Mobility as-a-service platform utilizing self-driving know-how to allow enterprises to offer providers on-the-go, whereas lowering their carbon footprint. We intention to save lots of lives, drive companies ahead, and empower people to embrace clear, shared, and modern e-mobility alternatives.
What’s the inspiration behind the title ‘JeGO’?
‘JeGO’ resonates throughout cultures. In Yoruba, it suggests ease and motion; in Wolof, it means goal or an enormous step; in Filipino, it means vitality; and in Igbo, it refers to journey or vacation spot. The title displays the 2 core components of what we do: vitality and mobility.
Who’s Frederick Akpoghene, and the way did his background affect JeGO?
I’m a Lagos-born Nigerian who grew up witnessing instability, poor energy infrastructure, and the necessity for folks to create their very own vitality options—mills, boreholes, candles. My childhood experiences, together with a home fireplace attributable to a candle throughout an influence outage, deeply formed my desirous about vitality and security. These experiences are central to why I’m doing what I do at present.
How did your skilled journey start?
I began coding at 16 on the Microsoft IT Academy, College of Lagos, earlier than shifting to the US, the place I studied International Enterprise and Know-how in Boston. I additionally took programs at establishments like Harvard and MIT. After commencement, I labored in New York, constructing software program and later working with firms like IBM, in addition to Italian producers concerned in international automotive manufacturers.
What led you into the mobility and EV house?
The turning level was the demise of my cousin in a automotive accident in Lekki Part 1. First responders couldn’t attain him for 4 hours attributable to lack of gasoline. That have pushed me into mobility, notably safer, lower-cost automobiles. We first constructed a driverless car overseas, however the Nigerian actuality made us deal with smaller, inexpensive EVs.
What’s driving JeGO’s plan to maneuver into native meeting via SKD and CKD?
From 2026, we’ll start the Semi Knocked Down (SKD) course of, and later Utterly Knocked Down (CKD). The foremost driver is economics. Delivery alone takes between 50 and 60 days on common, typically nearly half a yr in enterprise phrases. Past logistics delays, there are customs duties and import-related prices. There’s additionally a Invoice that has been handed to encourage patronage of native producers, making it extra viable in the long run. Whenever you look 5 years forward, the return on funding turns into clearer.
Why is native manufacturing necessary, past electrical automobiles?
It isn’t nearly EVs; it additionally applies to our vitality merchandise. The query we ask is: what can we do regionally? Manufacturing regionally helps scale back logistics prices and strengthens the ecosystem. Our purpose is to contribute to creating Nigeria a bedrock for manufacturing in Africa.
What challenges are concerned in establishing manufacturing amenities in Nigeria?
The most important problem is financing. Establishing and operating a manufacturing facility requires tens of tens of millions of {dollars}. It isn’t simply the setup; operations are equally capital intensive. You want a big workforce, not 5 or ten folks. For the time being, we’re attracting financing whereas sharing assets with manufacturing companions in China, which is extra inexpensive in comparison with locations like the USA.
The place are JeGO’s deliberate manufacturing places?
Now we have land in Epe, near the Dangote Refinery within the Free Commerce Zone. We even have plans for Benin Metropolis and Delta State and have been provided land in Benin. These places are strategic for logistics and industrial development.
Why does JeGO deal with affordability?
To us, EVs should not meant to be luxurious merchandise in markets like Nigeria. All our automobiles are underneath N40 million, whereas many others value N80 million to N200 million. The purpose is to assist the common Nigerian scale back transportation prices, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and ease the general vitality burden.
How does authorities coverage have an effect on EV pricing?
There are optimistic steps, such because the zero per cent import tariff certificates, however in apply, it’s not actually zero due to further charges. These prices are ultimately handed on to residents, growing car costs. True affordability requires a extra clear and supportive coverage surroundings.
What’s JeGO’s method to renewable vitality?
Our mission is to provide Nigerians entry to EVs and renewable vitality. Renewable vitality, notably photo voltaic, is non-exhaustible. Now we have developed programs just like the 5 Collection EV Charger, which may energy houses, companies, and cost EVs concurrently utilizing grid or photo voltaic vitality.
How does the JeGO vitality system work?
The system is modular and may cost from photo voltaic PV or the grid. It consists of battery stacks, inverters, and an app that enables customers to watch efficiency remotely. Basically, it’s a cleaner and safer various to diesel mills, that are costly and exhaustible.
Who’re your present shoppers for vitality options?
We offer energy options to inns and companies. As an illustration, we have now a 1.5 megawatt-hour station powering Breeze Continental Lodge alongside EV charging. One megawatt can energy as much as 4,000 houses within the US, exhibiting the size of what’s potential.
How do you see EV adoption evolving in Nigeria?
EV adoption is inevitable. Nigerians are curious and receptive; even cops cease to look once they see our automobiles. Nevertheless, adoption have to be matched with vitality infrastructure. From my expertise in California, speeding EVs with no fashionable grid results in charging bottlenecks. That’s the reason our focus is on turning houses and companies into viable charging factors.
What function does know-how play in JeGO’s options?
Know-how is central. Our programs enable distant monitoring, predictive upkeep, and over-the-air updates, just like fashionable EVs. The intention is reliability, effectivity, and long-term value financial savings for customers.
What’s the long-term imaginative and prescient for JeGO in Nigeria?
Our imaginative and prescient is to allow sustainable mobility and vitality entry for the common Nigerian, scale back dependence on fossil fuels, and place Nigeria as a severe participant in EV manufacturing and renewable vitality options.
