Empowering a New Generation of Nigerian Energy Practitioners

The new WISIONS Capacity Building Partnership has been launched! Collaborating with our partners, the Clean Energy Technology Hub (CTH) and the Reiner Lemoine Institute, we will strengthen the capacity of a new generation of energy professionals to adopt people-centered and holistic approaches to off-grid electrification in Nigeria. We kicked off the program last week with a first online session with more than 30 participants. Following, Ifeoma Malo, CEO of CTH, and Desmond Dogara, Senior Manager of CTH, share their reflection on the kickoff meeting:

The first session was an introductory take on the Evolution and Trends in the Nigerian Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) Sector, led by Mr Adekoyejo Kuye, a renewable energy expert and consultant. He gave an insightful overview of the history, current status, and future prospects of the DRE sector in Nigeria, highlighting the opportunities and challenges for energy access, climate action, and sustainable development.

Some of the key takeaways from the session were:

  • Nigeria has a huge potential for renewable energy, especially solar, wind, hydro, and biomass, which can complement the existing grid and off-grid systems.
  • The DRE sector has grown significantly in the past decade, driven by policy reforms, private sector investments, donor interventions, and community initiatives.
  • The DRE sector faces several barriers, such as lack of adequate financing, infrastructure, skills, awareness, and regulation, which need to be addressed through collaborative and innovative solutions.
  • The DRE sector can contribute to the achievement of Nigeria’s national and international commitments, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and the Renewable Energy Roadmap.
  • The DRE sector can also create positive socio-economic impacts, such as job creation, income generation, poverty reduction, gender equality, and improved health and education.

We are looking  forward to the next sessions of the training programme, where participants will learn more about the technical, financial, and social aspects of DRE projects, as well as network with other energy practitioners and stakeholders. We would like to thank the guest speaker and participants for making this a valuable and enjoyable learning experience.

Authors:

  • Ifeoma Malo, CEO of CTH
  • Desmond Dogara, Senior Manager of CTH

Find more infos about the Energy Practitioners Nigeria Partnership at the project page.

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