Youths must embrace renewable energy devt plans – Public analyst

A public analyst, Mr Alex Abegunde, has advised Nigerian youths to be active proponents in promoting the nation’s renewable energy development plans in order to move the country forward.

Abegunde, who is also an active member of the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), made the call during a seminar organised for youths in Omu-Aran, Kwara.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 200 youths, drawn from the three wards in Omu-Aran, participated in the one-day seminar on renewable energy development organised by YALI.

Launched in 2014, YALI is a flagship programme of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, geared toward investing in the next generation of African leaders.

It is a platform for young African leaders to connect with other leaders in their communities to interact on issues like entrepreneurship, climate change and human rights.

The Nigeria renewable energy master plan is a policy being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Environment.

It was produced with the support of the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) in 2006.

The master plan was designed to increase the contribution of renewable energy to account for 10 per cent of the nation’s total energy consumption by 2025.

Abegunde, who is the facilitator of the seminar, spoke on: Understanding the Concept of Nigeria Renewable Energy Development Plans.

He expressed the need to empower young entrepreneurs to start income generating enterprises in the renewable energy sector.

Abegunde said that every country was presently in dire need of energy to fuel her economic growth and that Africa countries, particularly Nigeria, were not exception.

According to him, more than 13 per cent of the world’s population live in Sub-Sahara Africa but that the region can only boast of less than three per cent of the world’s total power-generating capacity.

“As nation’s become more concerned about the threat of climate change, they are turning increasingly to clean energy solutions.

“These renewable resources are rapidly becoming the energy of the 21st century,’’ Abegunde said.

He added that in 2015, nearly half of all new power-generation capacity installed worldwide came from wind and solar energy.

“This is the reason why our youths should be at the fore front in the governments’ desire to align with global energy standard in achieving a sustainable nationhood’’. he said.

Also speaking, Comrade Kazeem Adekanye, the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area in Kwara, described the seminar as timely and purposeful.

Adekanye, who doubled as the President, Nigeria Youth Council, Kwara Chapter, said the role of the youth in nation building and community integration could not be over emphasised.

The council boss lauded the organizer for his foresight, saying the gesture had portrayed him as a versatile visionary leader and a role model to the younger generation.

He noted that the seminar would provide the opportunity for adequate interaction among the people of the community.

According to him, it will also bring about the desired socio-economic development envisioned for the people.