Abuja: Stakeholders in Nigeria’s energy sector have called on young innovators to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to renewable energy. The stakeholders made the call at a Green Skills bootcamp in Abuja, with a theme, ‘Spark the Green Economy: Robovolt Brand Reveal and AI-Driven Micro Grid skills.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), emphasized that Nigeria’s future energy security lies in its natural resources and the ingenuity of its people. Highlighting the nation’s abundant energy resources such as solar, wind, hydro, biomass, lithium, and nuclear, Abdullahi stressed the need to convert them into accessible, reliable, and affordable energy.
He noted that Nigeria is rich in mineral resources, including lithium, found in almost every state. Abdullahi mentioned that the government is taking steps to localize and domesticate technology, with plans to stop importing lithium batteries and solar panels as they will be produced domestically. He revealed that the Federal Government had signed investment agreements with LONGi, the world’s largest producer of solar components, to establish factories in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu is committed to ensuring that 30 percent of Nigeria’s energy mix comes from renewable sources such as solar, hydro, and wind. Abdullahi urged the youth to drive the country’s energy transition through science-backed creativity, policy-driven action, and technology-enabled vision.
Dr Abdul-Quayyum Gbadamosi, CEO of Citibim Nigeria Limited, pointed out that over 90 percent of businesses in Nigeria rely on diesel or petrol generators for daily operations, highlighting the struggle with energy access. Generators are prevalent in businesses and households, prompting CitiBIM to develop a mobile solar generator as a solution. Gbadamosi explained that during the innovation process, they faced challenges with access to local skills, leading to the organization of the bootcamp to develop local skills in AI, geo-intelligence, and virtual reality. The bootcamp aims to encourage youths to explore opportunities in sustainability, the green revolution, energy access, and the digital revolution. CitiBIM has also developed a Sustainability Dashboard to capture and map assets nationwide, creating new career pathways for youth in green technology.
Dr Oladimeji Olawale, CEO of Sleekabyte Technologies, UK Ltd, explained that the RoboVolts project aims to provide a cheaper, cleaner alternative to diesel and petrol generators, cutting costs and boosting profits for MSMEs. The project not only focuses on powering MSMEs but also on training people to maintain these solutions, equipping them with green skills that create jobs. Olawale highlighted the integration of AI into their system to map generator use in communities, providing government data to phase out fossil fuel generators and transition to sustainable alternatives.
Musaddiq Mustapha, Personal Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Subnational Infrastructure, described the unveiling of the mobile affordable solar generator as a game changer for distributed renewable energy. He emphasized that technology alone is not enough and that people are crucial. The president has emphasized the importance of building skills and capacity, training Nigerians in solar installation, battery maintenance, data analysis, and green entrepreneurship. Mustapha stated that every solar unit deployed, CNG bus converted, and efficient appliance installed represents an opportunity to create jobs and uplift communities. The government plans to build infrastructure that powers growth while protecting the climate, using carbon markets for financing and training people for the green economy. Nigeria aims to lead with integrity, evidence, and ambition.
The event also featured the Robovolt Brand and Product Unveiling, along with training sessions on artificial intelligence, geo-intelligence, virtual reality, and sustainable energy solutions.