President Tinubu: Nigeria Must Build Skilled Workforce to Lead Africa’s Renewable Energy Transition
President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria must invest in developing a highly skilled workforce capable of driving the country’s renewable energy transition and positioning it as Africa’s leading hub for clean energy capacity development.
The President, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, stated this on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Barefoot Renewable Energy College and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant in Kogi State.
Tinubu described the new institution as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, saying it would address one of the biggest challenges confronting Africa’s transition to clean energy — the shortage of skilled technical manpower.
He emphasised that the project demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to translating the nation’s abundant renewable energy resources into economic growth, industrial development, and employment opportunities.
“What separates one nation from another is the discipline with which it prepares its people to convert that inheritance into light, industry, and livelihood,” the President said.
“We are here today to narrow the gap between what Nigeria possesses and what Nigeria produces.”
He noted that the college, established alongside the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant, would equip Nigerians with practical skills in renewable energy technologies while strengthening the country’s technical capacity.
Tinubu disclosed that the institution would train technicians, installers, operators and maintenance professionals with globally competitive skills, enabling graduates to secure employment, establish businesses, and compete internationally.
“Renewable energy has moved beyond the arguments of environmentalists into the calculations of economists and strategists. The countries investing in human capital today will supply the technologies and technicians of tomorrow,” he said.
He added that although Nigeria is richly endowed with sunlight, wind, biomass, and water resources, the country’s challenge has been converting those natural resources into electricity and sustainable jobs.
“Our difficulty has been converting that endowment into megawatts, and megawatts into jobs. That difficulty is being addressed here,” he remarked.
The President described the Barefoot Renewable Energy College as the first institution of its kind on the African continent, modelled after India’s renowned vocational training programme that transformed rural women into solar engineers.
He stated that the college would serve as a centre of excellence for renewable energy education, innovation, and practical training, while supporting local manufacturing, expanding access to clean energy, and reducing youth unemployment.
“In time, our neighbours will come to Nigeria to learn what we have done ourselves,” Tinubu enthused, expressing confidence that the institution would position the country as Africa’s leader in renewable energy capacity development.
The President commended the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, and other stakeholders whose commitment ensured the successful completion of the project.
He also appreciated the Kogi State Government for providing an enabling environment for the development of the facility.
Tinubu further called on development partners, the private sector, international organisations, and research institutions to collaborate with the college to advance research, innovation, and technical training in renewable energy.
“Nigeria is prepared to host such collaboration,” he affirmed.
Declaring the institution open for academic and technical activities, the President expressed optimism that the college would produce the skilled workforce required to power Nigeria’s clean energy future.
“May the sun that shines on this campus never fall on idle hands,” he added.
