President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday commissioned Africa’s first renewable energy tertiary institution, the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, Osara (BARECKS), and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant in Kogi State.
This marks a major step in Nigeria’s drive to strengthen the continent’s clean energy workforce.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said Nigeria had taken the lead in renewable energy capacity development in Africa.
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He noted that the facilities, located at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, were completed two years after construction began.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s abundant solar, wind, biomass and water resources had long remained underutilised because of a shortage of skilled professionals capable of converting them into reliable energy and jobs.
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He explained that BARECKS was established to bridge that gap by equipping young Nigerians with practical renewable energy skills.
He described the institution as the first of its kind in Africa, modelled after India’s renowned vocational colleges that trained rural women as solar engineers.
According to him, the same approach could transform communities across Nigeria.
The President said Africa’s energy transition had suffered more from a shortage of technical expertise than from a lack of ambition.
He added that the college would train technicians, installers, operators and maintenance professionals while awarding internationally recognised certifications that would enable graduates to compete for jobs or establish businesses anywhere in the world.
He urged development partners, research institutions and private investors to collaborate with the college to expand technical training, research and innovation.
Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo thanked the Federal Government for siting the institution in Osara, describing it as a significant investment in human capital that would boost sustainable development, strengthen the energy sector and stimulate the local economy.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, said the project aligned with the Tinubu administration’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy through the development of a highly skilled workforce.
He urged the pioneer students to uphold excellence and integrity as ambassadors of the institution.
Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Mustapha Abdullahi, said the college features modern facilities, including smart classrooms, battery energy laboratories, a mini-grid simulation centre and energy efficiency research laboratories designed to produce globally competitive renewable energy professionals.
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The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Ahmed Tijjani Anaje, also praised the Federal Government for the initiative, saying it would equip young people with practical skills, reduce unemployment and drive socio-economic development in the host community.
Tinubu also commended the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and the Energy Commission of Nigeria for delivering the project on schedule and to international standards.
