By Yemi Olakitan
Over the course of three days, at least 102 youngsters from Katsina State’s 34 LGAs—most of whom are women—are receiving training on renewable energy sources and other power-related generating technologies.
This is to offer long-term answers to young unrest, unemployment, and insecurity that will help combat poverty, health problems, and climate change.
The Department of Power and Energy of the Katsina State Government, in conjunction with the Nigerian Energy Commission, organised the training. Its key areas of interest are solar photovoltaic, upgraded wood stoves, biogas, sun dryers, and energy efficiency.
Jibril Inuwa, the State Coordinator of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Katsina Field Office, said during the opening ceremony of the training that was held at the Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management that the training exercise was planned to ensure sustainable energy supply as one of the major outcomes of the “Earth Summit,” also known as “the Rio Convention,” and the upcoming International Conference on Energy.
“We are in a crucial period right now. Around 2.6 million people worldwide do not have access to clean cooking options, while nearly 760 million do not have access to power. The primary contributor to the climate catastrophe is how we generate and consume energy. About 75% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy sector.
“Organizing this specific training, he said, shows the Katsina State Government’s dedication to preserving and improving the environment. As a result, the environment was given top priority in the most recent budget allocation.
“This capacity building is a crucial component of industrialization, which aims to reduce our reliance on energy derived from fossil fuels, the excessive use of forest resources as a source of fuel, the use of biofuel as an alternative to fossil fuel, the empowerment of young entrepreneurs to launch income-generating ventures in the renewable energy sector, and become active proponents of energy efficiency and renewable energy approach with a clear understanding of the issues and implications.
Since nine out of ten people breathe contaminated air, which causes over eight million premature deaths annually, access to clean, renewable, and efficient energy is relatively straightforward, he said.
In his keynote address, Professor Eli Jidere Bala of the Nigerian Energy Commission, who was represented by the director of training Aliyu Abdulkarim, noted that the training will undoubtedly create a comfortable environment for growth and a platform from which the participants can advance and make a significant contribution to resolving Nigeria’s energy issues.
Accelerating capacity building for the nation’s energy sector is one of the goals of the Nigerian Energy Commission, he declared.
He expressed confidence in the agency’s ability to continue building up human capability, which he claimed will help to address the issue with the National Energy sector.
The fact that the earth is warming up and that human activity is causing the ecology to be disturbed daily is no longer news, according to Engineer Mansur Musa, Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State on Power and Energy.
“Experts have proposed a number of strategies and tactics to save the environment and ourselves, most of which rely on renewable energy technologies and, if widely adopted, would reduce global warming by roughly (1.5°C).
“Other countries, like Nigeria, have ratified conventions and laws on climate change to lessen the impact of weather-related catastrophes like flooding, drought, etc.
“At the conclusion of the programme, participants would be able to process and utilise renewable energy in their communities, and, when everyone does his or her part to reduce global warming, we would have a better world for everybody,” he said.
The Head of Civil Service in the State, Idris Usman Tune, spoke on behalf of the Special Guest of Honor and Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, who issued a challenge to the attendees to use all of the training’s teachings for their future development and fortification.
“When you’ve finished this programme, you’ll have a message to share with your community. The local population needs to be made aware of the issues related to the ongoing fall of trees because doing nothing is not an option.