Lighting Up Olorunda-Abaa: How Humble Fellow Is Powering a Sustainable Future

In the heart of Oyo State, a quiet revolution is taking shape. Humble Fellow, a forward-thinking social enterprise, is bringing light, innovation, and opportunity to Olorunda-Abaa, a peri-urban community in the Lagelu Local Government Area of Ibadan.

For years, residents of Olorunda-Abaa have endured the challenges of unreliable electricity. From small-scale farmers struggling to preserve their produce to students unable to study after dark, energy insecurity has long hindered local progress. The Solar for Olorunda-Abaa Initiative, launched by Humble Fellow, is poised to change that reality by transforming the community through clean, AI-powered solar energy.

Founded by James Akinleye, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and engineer born and raised in Olorunda-Abaa, Humble Fellow embodies the fusion of technology, service, and social purpose. Akinleye’s deep connection to the community fuels a mission built on sustainable empowerment—creating systems that generate power, stimulate economic growth, and inspire local innovation. “This is about empowering the next generation,” says Akinleye. “We’re harnessing the sun not just to light homes, but to power futures.”

At the heart of the Solar for Olorunda-Abaa initiative is the development of an AI-enabled solar mini-grid designed to deliver reliable, renewable electricity to households, schools, and local businesses. In addition to lighting homes and powering classrooms, the project includes a solar-powered ice-making and cold storage facility—an essential resource for farmers, traders, and healthcare providers. The facility will help reduce food spoilage, enhance agricultural trade, and support cold-chain preservation for health centers. With AI-driven monitoring and predictive maintenance, the system will operate at peak efficiency and ensure long-term sustainability.

For Humble Fellow, technology is only one part of the story. True empowerment comes from equipping people with the skills and confidence to sustain progress. The initiative includes a robust training and capacity-building program that will prepare local youth and technicians to install, maintain, and manage solar systems. This approach not only sustains the project but also creates meaningful employment and nurtures a new generation of green-tech professionals across the region.

Olorunda-Abaa, like many peri-urban communities in Nigeria, faces multiple interconnected challenges. Unreliable grid electricity disrupts education and business activities. Dependence on diesel generators drives up fuel costs and pollutes the environment. Limited economic opportunities further deepen energy poverty. By introducing affordable, renewable energy solutions, Humble Fellow is addressing these issues head-on—boosting productivity, reducing carbon emissions, and improving the overall quality of life for residents.

The initiative aligns closely with the vision of global partners committed to sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment. By combining renewable solar infrastructure with advanced digital tools such as AI monitoring, cloud analytics, and virtual learning platforms, the project demonstrates how technology can be harnessed for social good. Through online training and digital literacy programs, residents will also gain access to new knowledge in energy management and entrepreneurship, helping to bridge the digital divide and expand opportunities for the next generation.

What sets Solar for Olorunda-Abaa apart is its scalability. The project will provide clean, reliable energy to more than 500 homes while creating a replicable model for other rural and peri-urban communities in Oyo State and beyond. Its impact extends across multiple dimensions—powering small businesses, strengthening local agriculture, improving educational outcomes, enhancing healthcare delivery, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative reflects a holistic vision of sustainability, one that unites environmental responsibility with economic growth and social progress.

For Olorunda-Abaa, this project represents more than the arrival of electricity—it marks the dawn of a new era. It is a story of resilience, innovation, and community-driven transformation. Children will be able to study after dark, farmers will preserve their harvests more effectively, and small businesses will thrive under the glow of reliable, renewable power. With Solar for Olorunda-Abaa, Humble Fellow is proving that clean energy can do more than illuminate homes—it can transform lives, build resilience, and ignite sustainable progress across Africa.