The Environmental Rights Action (ERA), an NGO, has expressed concern as Nigeria has remained a dumping ground for solar energy materials, thereby, causing environmental crises across the country.
The Executive Director of ERA/Africa Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access (ACSEA), Dr Godwin Ojo, said this at a Stakeholders Validation and Training Workshop in Abuja.
The workshop which was focused on renewable energy system, was organised by Lift Humanity Foundation (LHF), an NGO, in collaboration with other stakeholders.
Ojo, who also expressed worries over high level of deteriorating state of technology in the country, said that access to the technology was very low and has become a challenge for Nigeria.
“The reason is that our indigenous technology is deteriorate the issue is about technology advancement, our technology is not function well. In industrialised countries, the technology is advanced and are working effectively because they are being maintained. While in Nigeria, it is still very low to access because they are very few, and most of them are in bad shape.”
Godwin Ojo. Executive Director Environmental Rights Action (ERA)
The Executive Secretary of LHF, Pius Oko, said that the workshop was a training for researchers especially Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Oko said that the training was focused on how data could be assessed and accessed, using more proffer methodology for the renewable energy governance in the country.
“We are bringing multi stakeholders together to validate this, already we have been on the process of providing a report since last year. The report was finalise this year, we feel that it is a process and the process is an inclusive one, thereby, making sure that everybody is a stakeholder in this system. That is the essence why we are bringing everyone together – the policy makers, the CSOs,and the media so that they will have an understanding of renewable energy in Nigeria. We have engage other relevant stakeholders for strong advocacy to ensure that the implementation of the energy renewable initiative is effective especially to rural communities and the states.”
Pius Oko, Executive Secretary LHF
Okon Ekpenyong, Director of Linkages, Research and Consultancy, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), said that the initiative would promote energy sector in the country.
Ekpeyong said that the commission was strongly supporting the programme.
Jennifer Ekele, Technical Officer, represented Ekpenyong.
Also, Dr Robert Onyeneke, from Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, emphasised the need for effective training and retraining of stakeholders on renewable energy.
Onyeneke said that the training and capacity building programme would support in developing strong skills and provide knowledge in the sector.
