Nigeria must embrace green technologies to power economy —Experts

Government and Nigerians must be ready to key into the advantages inherent in renewable energy if the country is to overcome some of the problems facing it, part of which include economic and environmental challenges.

This was the central point of discussions during the recent 6th ICTs and Renewable Energy in National Development Summit and Exhibition organised by Amazing Grace Computers in conjunction with Sunplus Renewable Systems Ltd, which took place at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Professor John Adeoti of the Economic Policy Research Department, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, Oyo State declared in a paper entitled, Renewable Energy Opportunities for Greening the Nigerian Economy that the green economy through renewable energy is possible and plausible in Nigeria, as it is capable of supporting employment generation, poverty eradication and natural capital conservation.

“Greening the economy with renewable energy will involve a substantial increase in investment in renewable energy and the share of renewable energy in all economic sectors and provides an opportunity to make a significant  contribution to addressing enormous energy challenges confronting the  nation,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Francis Adesina, Head, Directorate of Linkages and Sponsored Research,  the Department of Geography,  Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, in his address said whether one agrees or holds a dissenting view, that the global environment is no longer the same compared with what it was some decades ago.

He said there is a huge potential in Nigeria to produce electricity using solar energy and that this must be exploited. He added that clearly, tapping solar energy has multiple advantages for Nigeria because it is renewable and that it has minimal impact in terms of GHG emission.

The Chief Executive Officer of Sunplus, Pastor Tunji Agboola, in his presentation harped on the need for Nigerians to embrace the adoption of solar energy in homes and offices, rather than depend on electricity generated by the government. He said it was unfortunate that many people are not aware of the benefits inherent in the usage of solar energy to power their houses and offices.

According to him, once a solar system is installed, it will without doubt stand for at least 25 years before any repair could be done on it and that it supplies power on a 24-hour basis without having to face power outages.

While acknowledging that a first time user may need to fork out some many, he said that already a solar credit and installment scheme with a reputable bank is in place to take care of the initial fee for the provision of solar energy system and urged the public to avail themselves of this huge opportunity to acquire the solar system as it the future of electricity generation all over the world and that Nigeria cannot to be an exception.