15 exceptional young Nigerian energy professionals have distinguished themselves as future energy leaders by ranking among the top 20% in the Open Africa Power Program. The group comprised three cohorts from 2020, 2021, and 2022, with the 2020 and 2021 cohorts previously unable to attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These talented Nigerians represent a diverse group of young professionals from various fields in energy, climate change, and sustainability.
Launched in 2018, the Open Africa Power Program is a distinctive initiative jointly managed by Enel Foundation and SEforALL, aimed at forging a generation of new clean energy leaders in Africa. The program empowers fellows with the skills and knowledge necessary to expedite energy access and clean energy transition on the continent. In March 2023, 50 top performers from 18 African countries consisting of 3 Cohorts from 2020, 2021, and 2022 were invited to participate in the Italian Module. Mentors were assigned to OAP fellows from the 2022 cohort to support their professional career plans.
The program commenced with months of intensive training, a group project, a capstone project, and a job shadowing component. Excelling in all aspects, these talented Nigerians emerged as top performers among their peers, progressing to the one-week residential segment of the program in Italy. Alongside 35 young energy professionals from other African countries, they visited various power plants, control rooms, and research labs operated by Enel Group. Participants also engaged with top management at the Enel Group and attended a panel discussion session led by Enel Group, its Academic partners, and the Italian Ministry of foreign affairs, centering on the relationship between energy transition and climate mitigation. The UNDP Rome Centre hosted the closing ceremony of the residential module, during which two accomplished Nigerian women were among four participants who delivered impactful presentations on their Open Africa Power (OAP) experiences.
The achievements of these Nigerian energy professionals come at a critical moment for Nigeria, as the nation recently launched its Energy Transition Plan (ETP) to enhance renewable energy capacity and address the energy access gap by 2060. Nigeria confronts a substantial skills gap in clean energy, which must be tackled to realize integrated planning for a sustainable energy future. The success of these OAP fellows underscores the potential for innovative energy thinkers and solution enablers to propel Nigeria’s transformation in achieving its ETP targets.
As these young Nigerian energy professionals make strides on both local and international stages, their accomplishments serve as an impetus for stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond to join forces in pursuit of a more sustainable, clean, and equitable energy future for the nation and the entire African continent. The commitment and broad-ranging expertise of these Open Africa Power Fellows signal the emergence of a new generation of leaders devoted to a clean and equitable energy future for the nation and the entire African continent. Ultimately, this can reshape the prevailing narrative surrounding the energy access gap in Nigeria and across Africa.
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