Barefoot Renewable Energy College: A Testament to Govel Ododo's Collaborative Energy Revolution Agenda

The Special Adviser on Energy Resources to Kogi State Governor, Omoluabi Bode Adeyemi MNIPR, who doubles as the Chairman of Forum of Special Advisers to the Governor, has described the situation of the first ever Barefoot Renewable Energy College in Kogi state by the Energy Commission of Nigeria as a product of Gov. Usman Ododo’s commitment to collaboration with governmental and non governmental institutions for rapid development of the state.

He congratulated the Governor on the successful ground-breaking ceremony for the establishment of barefoot renewable energy college in Osara, saying it is a demonstration of the APC government’s robust vision to transform the sector.

Speaking to newsmen at the venue of the ground breaking ceremony on Saturday, Omoluabi said when completed, the college will serve as a hub for various stages of practical education, research, and application for a well-thought out roadmap for development of expertise and innovation in the energy sector.

He said at a time renewable energy is gaining unprecedented growth in the economic landscape across the globe, Kogi cannot but play a lead role in the development of manpower and expertise that will prepare Nigeria to play a lead role in the sector within the West African sub-region.

According to Omoluabi, the college will offer unprecedented developmental architecture for renewable energy, especially solar, wind, geothermal, and bioenergy as well as provide interdisciplinary learning that will integrate environmental science, engineering, policy, economics, and technology to provide a holistic education.

“This college without any shadow of doubt will be a game-changer in terms of bridging the energy gap, not only in Kogi with the North Central geopolitical zone and nation at large.

“With this project, young Nigerians can now have the opportunity to acquire the needed skills to pursue a career in renewable energy and contribute to our nation’s economy in the area of availability of energy for domestic, commercial and industrial use.

“With this, our young people will be engaged even before they graduate from school because renewable energy is a field that has come to stay with us and there is never a limit to which families, businesses and industries can require efficient energy system”, he said.

Omoluabi also thanked the federal government, especially the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) for taking interest on the project and for finding Kogi worthy of such an unprecedented endeavor.

He also expressed hope that it will be a new frontier towards boosting small and medium scale businesses, engaging communities especially artisans and giving the Osara community a new lease of economic and social life.