The federal government has launched a nationwide training programme for 1,500 young Nigerians on renewable energy technologies aimed at preparing the country for a cleaner and more sustainable future.
The initiative, implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under its Energising Education Programme, officially began in Maiduguri with 100 students from the University of Maiduguri making up the first batch of beneficiaries.
The programme is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on providing electricity to unserved and underserved communities to boost economic growth and improve living standards.
Speaking at the launch, the managing director of REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the training is designed to create a skilled workforce that can drive Nigeria’s ambition to become Africa’s leading hub for renewable energy.
“This requires more than infrastructure deployment. It demands a new generation of young people who are technically trained in the operation, maintenance and financing of renewable energy projects,” he stated.
Aliyu revealed that the training is being conducted using renewable energy facilities already deployed by the agency across the country to give participants practical, hands-on experience.
He also announced that the maiden National Renewable Energy Forum will be held in Abuja in September, with invitations extended to all states.
He noted that Borno State was chosen as the starting point because of earlier investments in solar panel assembly plants, which align with the federal government’s goal of promoting local manufacturing of renewable energy components.
“For Nigeria to truly become the renewable hub of Africa, we must encourage local manufacturing of renewable energy components. This is a key priority of Mr President, and one of the areas we are working closely with is the private sector to deliver,” Aliyu added.
Also speaking, the Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), Oluyemi Akinyulere, said the initiative builds on earlier experiences from the construction of the Maiduguri solar power plant, where 20 STEM students were involved from soil testing to the commissioning of the plant.
Akinyulere explained that similar training programmes would be held in other universities covered by the Energising Education Programme.
According to him, each participating institution will train about 100 students at world-class centres built as part of the project.
He disclosed that 15 universities are expected to benefit from this current phase, while additional institutions would be included in subsequent phases to expand access to renewable energy education and skills development.
