Rural Solar off-Grid Electrification and Selected Indicators of Socioeconomic Development: A Case Study of Nigeria.

Timileyin Olajuwon, University of the Western Cape
Lucia Osei Asamoah, University of the Western Cape

The literature emphasizes rural electrification as a catalyst for socioeconomic development. This study aims to provide empirical support for this notion by investigating how rural electrification influences Household Income and cooking behaviour as indicators of socioeconomic development. The research focuses on both the electrified Idi-ita/Onibambu and non-electrified Oriokuta communities in Ile-Ife, Western Nigeria. We plan to administer a questionnaire to 200 respondents selected statistically from all households. The analysis will employ Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Ordinal Logistic Regression to assess the impact of rural solar off-grid electrification on household income and cooking behaviour. By doing so, this study contributes empirical evidence to underscore the significance of rural development initiatives, particularly in the context of rural electrification in developing countries. Moreover, it provides a foundation for evidence-based decision-making for policymakers.