Nigeria’s  capacity to overcome its  energy challenge in year 2020 will be a reality if it invests in the development of alternate energy  through the use of Bio mass and other green energy initiatives. The Nigerian government must also utilise emerging latest technology in the area of biomass and waste to power by hydrothermal processes

These   form part of the conclusion of three international experts at a special birthday seminar in honour of the Governor of Ekiti State, Engineer. Segun Oni, organised by the International Academy for Cooperation Foundation (IACF), Kyugnam University, Changwon, South Korea, on Sunday.

The experts- Prof Aswani Gupta of the University of Maryland, USA, Prof. K. Kitagawa of Ecotopia Institute, University of Nagoya and Prof. Sang Chun Lee, Professor of Nano Engineering, Kyungnam University, Korea, and Chairman Apec Mentoring centre for the Gifted in Science spoke on the topic of the seminar-Global Energy Solution for the Future. Professor Gupta, who holds some patent in turbine design , spoke on the topic Gassification and Fuel reforming; Kitagawa on Current Energy issues-Biomass and LEDs; while Lee’s presentation was on Fuel Production from Biomass and wastes by Hydrothermal process.

They posited that by the year 2020, energy from oil resources would have become more limited based on the global desire for cleaner and more efficient combustive energy, and the current fast depletion of fossil fuels. African countries, particularly Nigeria, currently challenged by lack of power, must invest in green energy as alternative power source if they hope to get out of the power challenge facing them, stating that there is correlation between development of economies and access to power.

By developing its green energy potentials, leaders in developing countries will be helping to solve humanity’s environmental problems occasioned by the depletion of the ozone layer. While investing in power generation, developing countries must consider three approaches- the need for high efficiency in energy conversion to electricity, reduction in energy utilisation through the use of LEDs as, according to them, LEDs have proved to be seven to 10 times more efficient in delivering energy than the current modes. The third approach is the increase in power generation through biomass and solar power.

Speaking on the Nigerian situation, the experts acknowledged some steps being taken to increase access to power arguing, however, that such steps still relied mainly on fossil fuel sources. The government, according to them, must look into the direction of cleaner and more efficient energy which are also less expensive to deploy. They observed that Nigeria, indeed, has tremendous comparative advantage in the quicker deployment of green energy given its abundant biomass potential and sunlight.

The Nigerian government, they said, should also look into the direction of nuclear energy solution for power generation as this could be deployed faster for more access to power, saying that for this to happen, it must increase its capacity building  of its citizens while commencing the necessary international protocols.

In his speech at the occasion, Governor Segun Oni said the seminar was his best birthday gift ever as the issues discussed were of great relevance to the development of his country and the vision of his administration to improve the economic base of his state, using green energy platform, ‘the honour is not for me alone but for the whole of humanity that would derive appropriate lessons to overcome one of the world’s challenges in the area of access to power and the environment. The topic, which was not discussed with me earlier, must have been divinely inspired, coming at a time my country is looking in all directions to solve our problems in the area of power’

He said the occasion had brought out the need for all the people of the world to collaborate in solving humanity’s problem for the survival of all, adding that, ‘’the whole world is conjoined and we must all work together to solve our problems, be it in Asia, Africa or Nigeria because humanity is one,’’
The governor, who promised to carry the message home as a member of Nigerian Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), said some of the presentation would provide some input in the committee’s assignment.

He said the state government had taken up the position as the centre of bio-fuel in Nigeria by providing land and other incentives to three Ethanol production companies which are at various stages of completion, calling on international investors in the area of bio-fuel to join in the development of the facilities.

He promised to make the event an annual lecture to commemorate his birthday and invited the experts to set up their research laboratories in Ekiti State University of Science and Technology, saying that the authorities had recently set up a Centre for Green Energy and Mineral Resources.

Ilori, Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Ekiti.

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