The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Vice Chancellor of Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo have urged the Federal Government to encourage a multi-stakeholder approach to finding solutions to challenges facing Nigeria’s energy sector.
They made the call during the seventh Engineer Ifedayo Akintunde Annual Engineering Lecture in Ibadan. The lecture was in collaboration with Lead City University.
Engineers’ demand, among several others, was part of resolutions of the NSE, Oluyole branch. The annual lecture had the Acting Director, Renewable and Rural Power Access Department, Federal Ministry of Power, Dr Owolabi Adio, as guest lecturer.
The guest lecture gave professionals and academic stakeholders the opportunity to discuss current issues and advancements in Nigeria’s energy sector in order to evolve robust solutions to challenges facing the sector.
In a communiqué listing the resolutions, released at the end of the lecture, NSE urged the government to come up with initiatives that would provide a platform for experts.
The communiqué resolved that such an initiative would serve as an avenue for experts to share best practices, technical expertise, and policy innovations.
The seventh annual lecture, which had the theme: ”Expanding Energy Access and Security in Nigeria”, focused on harnessing collective actions to provide national access to sustainable energy supply.
The experts observed some of the challenges facing Nigeria’s Energy sector at the level of infrastructure deficiencies as well as financial and regulatory considerations.
Some included aging infrastructure; transmission and distribution losses as well as limited grid coverage.
The NSE also highlighted challenges of complicated electricity tariff, regulatory barriers, dependence on fossil fuels and environmental degradation.
Others include resource depletion as issues calling for urgent attention in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The experts faulted the inability of successive governments in Nigeria to effectively address the various challenges facing the energy sector which has been the bane of energy access expansion and security.
Thus, they advocated encouraging semi-autonomous mini-grids at the state levels in addition to implementation of policies that support financing for renewable energy.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Oluyole branch, Dr Adewale Ikotun, said that the society had been playing an active role in the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
He added that the annual lecture honouree, Engr. Ifedayo Akintunde had made significant contributions to the development of Engineering and Technology at national and global levels.
He noted that Engr. Akintunde was an astute leader and President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Vice President of World Federation of Engineering Organisation.
In his remarks, the VC of LCU, Adeyemo, reiterated the commitment of the university’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology to academic Research and Development in Nigeria.
Earlier, the NSE President, Engr. Margaret Oguntala, said that the focus of the annual lecture was to solve critical engineering problems in Nigeria. He was represented by the Vice-President, Engr. Ademola Agoro, who doubles as chairman of the annual lecture planning committee.