President says new Kogi-based institution will train world-class renewable energy professionals, create jobs and position Nigeria as Africa’s hub for clean energy innovation……
President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria is taking the lead in renewable energy capacity development across Africa following the inauguration of the continent’s first Renewable Energy College in Kogi State.
The institution, known as the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, was officially commissioned on Tuesday alongside the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu described the project as a major milestone in Nigeria’s transition to clean energy, saying it would equip thousands of young Nigerians with practical skills needed to power the country’s renewable energy future.
According to the President, the college is designed to address one of Nigeria’s biggest development challenges by transforming the country’s vast renewable resources—including sunlight, wind, biomass and water into economic opportunities through job creation and technical expertise.
“This is the first institution of its kind on the African continent,” Tinubu said, noting that the college was inspired by India’s renowned Barefoot College model, which trained rural women with little formal education to become solar engineers.
He expressed confidence that a similar approach could transform communities across Nigeria, adding that the country’s investment in renewable energy education places it at the forefront of Africa’s clean energy ambitions.
The President said the speed with which the project was delivered reflects a new commitment to completing critical national infrastructure, recalling that construction began just two years ago.
“As a nation, we have become accustomed to foundation stones that outlive those who laid them,” he said. “Today, we are standing before a world-class institution completed to international standards.”
Tinubu said Africa’s biggest challenge in the global energy transition is no longer a lack of ambition but a shortage of skilled professionals capable of implementing renewable energy projects.
He explained that the college would train technicians, installers, operators and maintenance specialists with practical expertise in modern renewable energy technologies, while graduates would receive internationally recognised certifications that would enhance employment and entrepreneurship opportunities both within and outside Nigeria.
The President also invited development partners, research institutions, private sector organisations and international agencies to collaborate with the college, assuring them that Nigeria is ready to lead partnerships that will advance clean energy development across the continent.
Tinubu commended the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, and the Kogi State Government for their roles in bringing the project to completion.
Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo described the inauguration as a significant step towards sustainable national development, saying the institution would strengthen Nigeria’s energy sector, attract investment and create new economic opportunities for local communities.
He added that the project demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to solving Nigeria’s electricity challenges through investment in education, innovation and human capital development.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, said the college represents a strategic investment in skills development and employment generation, adding that Nigeria’s aspiration of becoming a $1 trillion economy depends largely on building a highly skilled workforce in key sectors such as renewable energy.
He urged the pioneer students to uphold professionalism and technical excellence as the institution’s first ambassadors.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, said the college features state-of-the-art facilities, including smart classrooms, battery energy laboratories, energy efficiency laboratories and a mini-grid simulation centre designed to provide hands-on training in renewable energy technologies.
According to him, the institution will serve as a centre for research, innovation and workforce development, supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda while producing professionals capable of driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Ahmed Anaje, welcomed the establishment of the college in Kogi State, saying it would equip young Nigerians with valuable technical skills and contribute meaningfully to national development.
