The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has explained the power crisis will persist unless the government diversifies energy sources.
The APWEN National President, Engineer Elizabeth Eterigho, told reporters the energy sources must be diversified in domestic commercial and industrial sectors while new available technologies to reduce energy wastages and save cost must be adopted.
According to her: “In Nigeria, the power sector has been in comatose for many years coupled with the frequent collapse of our national grid. The transition of the energy sector will require significant investments.
“As we all know traditional fossil fuel exporting countries are seeking how to leverage the change in demand patterns that are being brought about by the energy transition and as a momentum to decarbonize their economies and Nigeria should not be left behind.”
She stated the energy transition plan launched by the Federal Government will boost investments in energy project development to address increasing energy poverty and ensure energy sustainability.
Read Also: APWEN frowns at non-use of facemasks in Niger
“This plan includes Nigeria ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all of its 200 million people by the year 2030 and achieving net-zero by the year 2060 through massive investments in oil, gas, solar and other modern energy technologies such as hydrogen and electric vehicles.”
Eterigho explained that the 2022 APWEN national conference will focus on the Just Energy Transition because as engineers, they are stakeholders in the implementation of the energy transition plan.
“The theme for this year’s APWEN conference is “Just energy transition: An enabler for sustainable development in Nigeria”. A JUST Energy Transition is a transition towards a sustainable, low carbon and equitable energy system that is aimed at improving the lives of people and sustains the environment,” she said.
She said that the conference would include the opening ceremony, technical sessions, workshops, and exhibitions which would showcase the research works of female engineers in energy and innovation.
The President stated the national conference would open up opportunities and mentorship for young female students in Science and Technology fields across the country.