Our vision is to provide energy sufficiency for homes, businesses_Ganduje

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 for economic growth and well-being of Nigerians.

He stated that the national development plan is crystalizing under the present administration of President Bola Tinubu, adding that energy remains a focal point in driving sustainable human and economic development of the nation.

He made the remarks during the inauguration of a World Bank assisted Core Building of Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development, ACE-SPED, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN on Thursday.

Ganduje, who was represented by the former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi, commended UNN for being at the vanguard of addressing the present perennial energy crises in Nigeria, expressing hope that ACE-SPED would champion sustainable energy development in Nigeria.

“I commend the vision and leadership provided by the UNN’s ACE-SPED Director, Professor Emenike Ejiogu as exceptional and encourage him to aspire more to greater higher in the service of his fatherland.

“Not only did Prof. Ejiogu lead the team that won the 6 million dollars grant for UNN, he has over the few years of his leadership obtained further grants of over 500,000 dollars, anchored to this major project.

“More of such projects from people like him with great ideas are needed to reposition our nation for the betterment of the citizens,” he said.

While making his remarks, the Chairman of UNN Governing Council, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd),  expressed happiness that the ACE-SPED’s mandate captured the energy challenge the university, the country and the entire sub-Saharan Africa is currently facing.

“I’m optimistic that the Director ACE-SPED and his team will help the university to solve the problem of power crisis in UNN which will help to reduce the huge amount of money paid as electricity bills to public power providers,” he said.

In his welcome address, the UNN’s Director of ACE-SPED, Professor Emenike Ejiogu, stated that the core building would promote research, knowledge-sharing, collaboration in Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa and the world at large.

Professor Ejiogu, further said that the building features Ultra high-tech Materials Characterisation Laboratory; 3-D Innovative Electronics Prototyping Laboratory and Centre for Competence in Digital Education C-CoDE Ultra Modern Studio.

According to him,  the mandate of the Centre is to proffer sustainable solutions to power and energy challenges peculiar to the Sub-Saharan Africa through impactful educational researches.

“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, with a focus to addressing energy challenges without exacerbating climate change. We are dedicated to developing economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions to energy challenges, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where energy access and sustainability are critical to driving economic growth and improving livelihoods.

“We are aware that our society is looking up to institution like ours to provide the leadership and solutions that would define the future of energy sector. With your support, the collaboration of our partners and the dedication of our staff and students, ACE-SPED would play a central role in shaping a sustainable energy future that would benefit our immediate environment ,our country, Sub-Saharan Africa and the world at large,” he said.

The Director appreciated the World Bank, ADF, the AAU, and the National Universities Commission, NUC,  for their support and growth of the Centre.

In his address, the Acting Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor Polycarp Chigbu, lauded ACE-SPED contribution to energy development in Nigeria, stating that it has remained a symbol of excellence in energy research, education and sustainable development.

While stating that UNN is proud to play host to ACE-SPED, he bemoaned high electricity tarrif from the conventional energy distributors. He further stated that the University would rely on the expertise of ACE-SPED workforce for sustainable and homegrown energy solutions.

“Indeed, the Administration is aware of the innovative biomass waste to energy conversion system that the Centre has reached advance stage of development and commercialisation. Today, as we gather to celebrate the completion of ACE-SPED Core Building, I would like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the management of ACE-SPED under the able leadership of Professor Emenike C. Ejiogu, for their remarkable achievement in bringing this project to fruition,” he said.