At just 24, Sandra C. Chukwudozie set out to transform how Africa sees and uses energy. Today, as CEO of Salpha Energy, she is delivering on that vision, replacing kerosene lamps and unstable grids with affordable, clean solar power for homes and businesses across Nigeria.
What began as a bold idea has grown into a continental force for change. Since its launch, Salpha Energy has powered more than 1.5 million households and businesses, built the first female-owned solar home system assembly plant in sub-Saharan Africa, and created over 1,000 jobs, many of them for women and young people. The company’s efforts have already generated more than 6.7 GWh of clean power and offset over four million tonnes of carbon emissions.
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Sandra’s mission goes far beyond infrastructure. She has built Salpha Energy around community-driven solutions, empowering women as “energy ambassadors” who carry solar adoption directly into villages, towns, and urban neighborhoods. The results are deeply personal: a solar lamp that allows children to study after dark, families breathing cleaner air instead of kerosene fumes, and small businesses staying open longer into the night. In reality, access to light has become access to dignity, opportunity, and hope.
Her groundbreaking work has not gone unnoticed. From being listed on Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 to winning the Ashden Award for Energy Innovation, Sandra has emerged as one of Africa’s most recognized young leaders in renewable energy. In 2025, she secured $1.3 million in funding to expand Salpha’s production and distribution network, reaching even more underserved communities.
But recognition is only one part of her journey. Sandra’s vision is to rewrite Africa’s energy narrative. For decades, millions across the continent have lived in energy poverty, relying on unstable grids, costly generators, and harmful fuels. Through Salpha, she is proving that Africa can leapfrog outdated systems and embrace a cleaner, more sustainable, and inclusive future.
Her work is also anchored in inclusivity. By training women and youth across the renewable energy value chain, Sandra ensures the benefits of this transition are shared widely. Many of Salpha’s employees are first-time earners in their families, their livelihoods now tied directly to Africa’s energy transformation.
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Sandra’s rise reflects a career steeped in international exposure and solid experience in the energy sector. With a background in International Management, Industrial Relations, and Economics, she has worked across global organizations in both the private and public sectors, including the United Nations and Dozzy Group, before founding Salpha Energy. Her international journey, living in Europe, Africa, and working at the United Nations Headquarters, has equipped her with a global perspective, cultural fluency, and a leadership style that is both empathetic and authentic.
“I have dedicated my professional life to supporting economic growth through driving sustainable energy developments,” she says, emphasizing her fearless approach to decision-making and openness to creative solutions. It is this boldness that has allowed her to deliver extraordinary results for organizations and communities alike.
As Founder and CEO of Salpha Energy, Sandra continues to build on her vision for a carbon-neutral Africa, proving that innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability can drive both social impact and commercial growth. Her journey is a powerful reminder that with belief, resilience, and purpose, Africa’s energy future can be bright, lit by the very people who call the continent home.
