Energy Waste Research Vital For Nigeria’s Transition To Green Economy

Enhancing skills and knowledge in green technologies and sustainable practices is seen as crucial for transition to a green economy. However,  Nigeria’s current infrastructure is often inadequate for supporting large-scale green projects.

To this end, the collaboration between Nigeria, international organisations, universities, and research institutions on training for energy waste research, is aimed at building local expertise in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmental management.

Limited access to advanced technologies and sustainable practices hampers the development of renewable energy and green infrastructure, as captured by the director general, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, at a recent national conference hosted by Oriental News Nigeria in Lagos.

At the event, the director general reacted to a research project being conducted by a 300 level student in the Petroleum and Gas Engineering Department of the University of Lagos, Mitchell Mojisola Savage, whose project needs funding, and is currently in the design stage and once completed, will go through a pilot test to assess its feasibility.

Savage, in a short remark at the summit, laid bare her challenges which include; getting financial resources, assembling a dedicated technical team and establishing a reliable feedstock collection system.

To address this, a potential collaboration  with Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA ) would be important for the project’s success.

Green financing in Nigeria is bolstered by various financial instruments provided by international organizations and development partners. These include grants, concessional loans, and tax incentives aimed at supporting green projects.

Key donors and institutions include the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which offer funding and technical assistance to promote sustainable projects.

The Nigerian government also offers tax incentives, subsidies, and grants to encourage private sector investment in renewable energy and sustainable technologies, said Agama who took interest in the project.

Joining the Green Club further exposed Savage to the massive problem of waste mismanagement prompting her to search for solutions. This led to her research on food waste valorisation.

“Now, I’m designing Naija Valoriza 1.0, a project to convert food waste into biogas and biodigestate through anaerobic digestion, with a focus on Lagos State. When successful, the model can then be replicated throughout other regions of Nigeri, ” she said.

On his part, the managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA),  Abba Abubakar Aliyu, who was keynote speaker at the conference said, the agency is deeply committed to the pivotal role energy plays in driving sustainable development.