Vision for Sustainable Energy Under President Tinubu’s Administration
The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has disclosed that the vision of his party is to provide sufficient energy for homes and businesses to drive economic growth and enhance the well-being of Nigerians.
He stated that the national development plan is crystallizing under the present administration of President Bola Tinubu, adding that energy remains a focal point in driving sustainable human and economic development for the nation.
Ganduje made these remarks during the inauguration of the World Bank-assisted Core Building of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) on Thursday. Represented by the former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi, Ganduje commended UNN for being at the vanguard of addressing Nigeria’s perennial energy crises, expressing hope that ACE-SPED would champion sustainable energy development in the country.
Commitment to Addressing Energy Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa
In his welcome address, the Director of ACE-SPED, Professor Emenike Ejiogu, stated that the core building would promote research, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration in Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa, and globally. He highlighted the building’s cutting-edge facilities, including:
- Ultra High-Tech Materials Characterisation Laboratory
- 3-D Innovative Electronics Prototyping Laboratory
- C-CoDE Ultra Modern Studio
Professor Ejiogu emphasized the Centre’s mandate to proffer sustainable solutions to power and energy challenges peculiar to Sub-Saharan Africa through impactful educational research. “At ACE-SPED, we are deeply committed to advancing the global energy transition, which is at the heart of our mission. ACE-SPED is poised to become a beacon of innovation in the energy sector, focusing on developing economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions to energy challenges,” he said.
“Our society looks up to institutions like ours to provide the leadership and solutions that will define the future of the energy sector. With your support, the collaboration of our partners, and the dedication of our staff and students, ACE-SPED will play a central role in shaping a sustainable energy future for Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the world at large.”
The Director expressed gratitude to key stakeholders, including the World Bank, African Development Fund (ADF), African Union of Universities (AAU), and the National Universities Commission (NUC), for their support and contributions to the Centre’s growth.
The Chairman of UNN’s Governing Council, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), expressed happiness that ACE-SPED’s mandate addresses the energy challenges faced by the university, the country, and the entire Sub-Saharan Africa region. “I’m optimistic that the Director of ACE-SPED and his team will help the university reduce its reliance on conventional power providers and solve the problem of high electricity tariffs,” he said.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor Polycarp Chigbu, lauded ACE-SPED’s contribution to energy development in Nigeria, stating that it has remained a symbol of excellence in energy research, education, and sustainable development. While acknowledging UNN’s pride in hosting ACE-SPED, he criticized the high electricity tariffs from conventional distributors and emphasized the university’s reliance on the Centre’s expertise for homegrown energy solutions.
Professor Chigbu highlighted the Centre’s innovative biomass waste-to-energy conversion system, noting its advanced stage of development and commercialization. “Today, as we gather to celebrate the completion of the ACE-SPED Core Building, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the management of ACE-SPED under the able leadership of Professor Emenike C. Ejiogu for bringing this project to fruition,” he added.
