Experts in the energy sector have called for holistic development of a national framework to achieve sustainable energy access, reduction of losses and security.
They made the call yesterday at the third edition of the Dr Diran Fawibe Annual Lecture Series organised by International Energy Services Limited, the Centre for Petroleum Energy Economy and Law (CPEEL) and the University of Ibadan (UI) in Ibadan.
In his keynote address, Mr. Austin Avuru, the Chairman, AA Holding and pioneer Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, underscored the need for strategic plan.
He said that developing a strategic plan for energy transition with specific objectives would position Nigeria for opportunities in renewable energy before stock of crude oil vanishes.
Avuru said that energy security would ensure growth for the country and economic opportunities for reducing unemployment among other challenges facing the country
“Nigeria must therefore use its resources to generate energy and take the people out of energy poverty.
”We must use those resources to solve our energy problem.
“We have to build our internal refining capacity.
“There must be a framework for developmental strides that ensure energy security for us. we must plan for what will be inevitable,” he said.
Group Chairman of International Energy Services, Dr. Diran Fawibe, underscored the importance of partnerships for the country to scale the present hurdles in energy accessibility and building sustainability.
Fawibe stated that the consequences of energy poverty had been very clear over the past couple of years.
“We are looking at issue of job creation. In the country, we are looking at access to healthcare.
“We are looking at access to energy for educational development and so many other things.
“It’s only government that can tackle this in partnership with the private sector and the university academia.
“It’s still an idea that can be used as a vehicle to do research and come up with some of the innovative technology,” he said.
Fawibe reiterated that this was crucial to providing solutions to the problems within the country pledging his commitment to ensuring it happened.
In his address, the Chief Executive Officer of International Energy Services Ltd., Mr Bayo Ige, said Nigeria must strive for economic growth and energy independence.
According to him, this can be achieved through collaboration with stakeholders to achieve energy security.
“As a nation striving for economic growth and energy independence, we must engage in forward-looking conversations and collaborative actions that will shape the policies and partnership needed to ensure a sustainable energy future,”Ige said.
Also, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Rahamon Bello, urged well-meaning Nigerians to take a cue from Dr Fawibe by investing in research and discuss things that would benefit Nigeria.
“Our challenges are unique in Nigeria and Africa and we must have home grown solutions to these challenges.
“Our research funding efforts must be adequate and targeted to have the needed results,”Bello said.
He underscored the role of Nigeria as a pace setter for other African countries through involvement in solving local and international problems through research in universities in Europe and America particularly.
“Hence, with the right conditions and incentives, we should be able to find more amenable solutions to the myriad of challenges facing the nation from issues on energy to other social and economic issues,”Bello said.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, UI, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said that energy had been the lifeblood of modern economies.
He stated that its availability, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability were indispensable for driving industrialisation, improving the quality of life, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Director of CPEEL, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olugbenga Falode, said that energy security should be a shared national vision, hence collaboration was needed to achieve and sustain it.
We’ll immortalise Buhari, transport varsity’s pro-chancellor
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Federal University of Transportation Daura (FUTD), Mr. Wahab Owokoniran, has pledged that the institution will immortalise late President Muhammadu Buhari by surpassing his expectations.
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This is contained in a tribute by Owokoniran, a former chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos state, to Buhari in Lagos.
Owokoniran, an APC chieftain and former secretary of the PDP in Lagos State, said: “The challenge is particularly to surpass Buhari’s expectations and make the institution an international pride as a mark of immortalising the heroic contributions of the late president to education and progressive leadership.
“As chairman of governing council of the university, all best efforts possible shall be deployed into the institution to attain the standard and productivity as envisaged by its establishment.”
He noted that the sudden death of the former president came as a big shock to the town of Daura, the governing council, members of staff and students of FUT Daura, the hometown of the late symbol of exemplary leadership.
“Daura is the community that hosts a foremost specialised university in the country.
“The immense contributions of the late former president from his days as military officer and head of state to being a politician and civilian president, cannot be quantified.
“He stood out as a symbol of selfless leadership and no doubt, had passed on as great hero of positive leadership.
“We have no doubt that the late president’s goodwill resonates in the acceptance of the specialised university by the Daura community.’
Buhari, who was buried on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina, died in a London clinic on Sunday at the age of 82