President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared that Nigeria has taken the lead in Africa’s renewable energy revolution with the commissioning of the continent’s first Barefoot Renewable Energy College and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant in Osara, Kogi State.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President described the new institution as a landmark investment designed to transform Nigeria’s abundant renewable energy resources into economic opportunities through the training of skilled manpower.
According to Tinubu, the college is a direct response to the shortage of technical expertise that has slowed Africa’s energy transition, stressing that it will produce technicians, installers, operators and maintenance professionals equipped with internationally recognised certifications.
He said the institution, modelled after India’s successful Barefoot College initiative, would position Nigeria as Africa’s hub for renewable energy capacity development and provide graduates with skills that are competitive in the global labour market.
The President also praised the speed of execution of the project, noting that it was completed within two years, unlike many public projects that remain unfinished for decades. He urged development partners, research institutions and the private sector to collaborate with the college, assuring them of Nigeria’s readiness to lead renewable energy partnerships on the continent.
Tinubu commended the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for their roles in delivering the project.
Governor Ododo described the college as a strategic investment in human capital that would strengthen Nigeria’s energy sector, attract investments and create employment opportunities for young people.
Udeh said the project aligns with the Federal Government’s vision of building a knowledge-driven economy, noting that a skilled workforce in renewable energy is essential to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.
The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, said the institution is equipped with smart classrooms, battery energy laboratories, a mini-grid simulation centre and other state-of-the-art facilities to train professionals in renewable energy technologies.
The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ahmed Anaje, welcomed the project, saying it would empower youths with technical skills and contribute significantly to national development.
