By Gabriel Kuma
The federal Government has said there is need to identify and support talents with required skills needed to drive the energy innovations in the country.
The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu said this Tuesday in Abuja during the First Career Fair for the Clean Energy Sector, organised by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations – Alliance (REEEA-A), the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) within the framework of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP).
Represented by the Director, Renewable and Rural Power Access, Engr. Abubakar Ali-Dapshima, Aliyu said the government will support capacity development for the job fair initiative in the sector.
“Given the need for vetted, competent manpower to drive the energy goals in the sector, Federal Ministry of Power is happy to reaffirm it’s commitment to support capacity development within the sector, through participation and support of this job fair initiative in the sector.”
The REEEA-A Sterling Committee, represented by Dr. Aminu Isa emphasized on the shortage of manpower to support development projects in the sector.
“With an estimated need of over 30,000 jobs to drive energy innovations effectively and efficiently in the country, we need to do more to identify the best talents and support them to find opportunities best suited their skillset. This is one of the core objectives of the Alliance,” he said.
Also speaking during her goodwill message, the Head of Section, Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Inga Stefanowicz said the EU has gone the extra mile in unlocking financing to strengthen investments in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency sector.
“In addition to supporting youth empowerment and job creation in Nigeria, the EU is very active in supporting the unlocking of financing that will help further strengthen investments in the RE and EE sector. This will be crucial in creating even more opportunities for work and innovation in the sector,” she stated.
Similarly, the head of programme, NESP Mr. Duke Benjamin, who was represented by the Head of Unit, Sustainable Energy Access, Mr. Olumide Fatoki said the NESP is focusing so much attention at capacity development in the sector.
“In its second phase, NESP has intensified it’s efforts to scale capacity development in the RE and EE sector. The Energies! Career fair adds to a growing list of trainings, certification schemes and skills-matching efforts which we have developed and implemented with the support of our partners and commissioning parties,” he said.
The pilot scheme, which kicked off in Lagos was conceived to connect professionals in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency sector with quality opportunities in the sector.
So far, over 300 professionals and 25 companies have participated in both Lagos and Abuja legs of the fair, while an additional 500 participants have attended virtually.