Ministers Laud UNIDO, EU For Promoting Small Hydropower Development

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the The European Union (EU) have been commended for promoting small hydropower

Development in Nigeria. The Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, gave the Commendation at the two-day capacity building workshop with the theme:

“Small Hydropower Development for Agro Industry Use in Nigeria” was organised by the UNIDO and EU in Abuja.

The workshop collaborates with the Federal Ministries of Power, Water  Resources and Sanitation, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).

The Minister of Agriculture, represented by the deputy director,

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Renewable Energy of the Ministry, Engr. Adebayo Adedeji said the Workshop aligns with the ministry’s vision of ensuring sustainable agricultural transformation and food security.

He stressed that reliable and affordable energy is essential for

powering irrigation systems, processing facilities, and storage

Infrastructure.

“As we advance towards building resilient food systems, the role of Renewable energy, particularly small hydropower, cannot be overstated.

It is a clean, sustainable, and locally adoptable energy source that supports economic development,” Kyari said.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof  Joseph Utsev, a director in the ministry, represented Ngozi Aboho, commended the two organisations for their shared commitment to improving access to affordable and reliable energy for all along the agricultural value chain and other businesses.

He said the development of small hydropower holds immense promise for Nigeria’s rural electrification and agricultural transformation.

The minister stated that the federal government remains dedicated to promoting clean energy initiatives aligned with the nation’s national development goals and international climate commitments.

“As a nation blessed with abundant water resources and arable land, we are uniquely positioned to leverage renewable energy to power agro-industry growth, enhance livelihood, food security, create jobs and reduce our carbon footprint,” the minister said.

In a welcome address, the national programme officer of UNIDO, Dr Rueben Bamidele, said UNIDO and the EU are responding to the power challenges in Nigeria by promoting the use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity by setting up small hydropower (SHP) schemes.

Bamidele underscored that Nigeria has many renewable energy sources, including hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass. According to him, small hydropower holds excellent potential for providing access to electricity.

He said recent government estimates suggest a hydropower potential of approximately 24,000 MW, of which SHP accounts for 3,500 MW.

He stated that the workshop focused on building the capacity of policy and decision makers, renewable energy project developers and relevant financial institutions to develop and implement small, practical hydropower projects in Nigeria.

According to him, one of the program‘s key objectives is to raise stakeholders‘ awareness of the viability of small hydropower as an effective means of generating electricity and enhancing economic development.

Others are to provide decision-makers with an overview of the current barriers and solutions to scaling up renewable energy investments in Nigeria, promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge in SHP development, and enable participants to review the strategic importance.