President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to commission the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) Complex and Africa’s first Barefoot Renewable Energy College in Osara, Kogi State, on Tuesday, August 4, in a move aimed at advancing Nigeria’s clean energy ambitions and energy transition agenda.
This is also as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, described the project as a strategic national investment that will strengthen renewable energy development, build technical capacity, and support Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
According to Udeh, the ECN Complex houses the Barefoot Renewable Energy College and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant, both of which are designed to accelerate clean energy innovation, expand energy access, create jobs, and promote sustainable development in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister said the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, a flagship initiative of the Energy Commission of Nigeria under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, is the first institution of its kind in Africa.
He explained that the college will provide practical training in solar and other renewable energy technologies to Nigerians regardless of their educational background, with the aim of promoting self-reliance, entrepreneurship, employment generation, and rural development while building the skilled workforce required for the country’s expanding renewable energy sector.
Udeh also said the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant would support efforts to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix by testing decentralised hydrogen systems as cleaner alternatives to diesel-powered electricity generation, particularly in areas with unreliable power supply.
He noted that the facility would also advance research, innovation, and local capacity development in hydrogen technology, positioning Nigeria to become a leading hydrogen hub in Africa.
The minister also added that the project is expected to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and the country’s target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060 through the deployment of cleaner energy technologies across the industrial, transportation, and power sectors.
The commissioning of the ECN Complex and the Barefoot Renewable Energy College underscores President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to energy security, environmental sustainability, and the development of indigenous capacity to drive long-term economic growth, utilizing innovation, science and technology.