President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday inaugurated Africa’s first “Barefoot Renewable Energy College”, a practical-skills training institute aimed at boosting solar and off-grid power expertise in rural communities.
The Barefoot Renewable Energy College, sited at Confluence University of Science and Technology in Osara, Kogi State, was commissioned by Vice President Kashim Shettima who represented the President.
The college is intended to deliver hands-on training in solar and other renewable technologies to aspiring technicians across the region, a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Vice President Stanley Nkwocha said.
President Tinubu described the initiative as part of the federal government’s broader drive to expand access to clean energy, create jobs and equip young Nigerians with technical skills that match evolving market needs.
“This institution reflects our commitment to clean energy and youth empowerment,” the President noted.
Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo welcomed the project as a strategic investment in human capital, saying the college would strengthen youths’ capacity, foster technology transfer and spur local economic growth.
“Young people should seize this opportunity to acquire renewable-energy skills that will improve their livelihoods,” Ododo said.
Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, called the commissioning a milestone for renewable-energy education in the country and suggested the model could be replicated elsewhere on the continent.
He lauded the Tinubu administration’s focus on sustainable energy training and community empowerment.
