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FUWAPE STRESSES ADVANTAGES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AT TRAINING FOR CORP MEMBERS


FUWAPE  STRESSES  ADVANTAGES OF  RENEWABLE ENERGY AT TRAINING FOR CORP MEMBERS

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Joseph Fuwape has asked policy makers and drivers of the country’s energy policies  to explore the benefits  of Renewable Energy as alternative source of energy.  He gave the  charge at a five day training workshop on Renewable Energy devices for Youth Corps members in South-West zone  organized by Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Professor Fuwape said when he received the letter of request for the use of FUTA’s Centre for Renewable Technology (CRET) for the training workshop from the Director General (ECN) he could not but grant immediate approval considering the immense benefits of the programme for the next generation of leaders.  He urged the Corps members to key into the training and practice some of the technologies for the purpose of creating avenue for self-employment and economic empowerment. He also charged them to lead the promotion of  awareness  on the benefits of Renewable Energy for increased access  to modern energy services especially for the rural and semi-urban communities in an environmentally friendly manner. Fuwape said they had come to the right place to be  trained in the design, construction operation and maintenance of improved fire woodstoves, solar PV for lighting and water pumping.  He urged them to be attentive and endeavor to maximize the advantage of  such rare opportunity extended to them.

Professor Fuwape commended the Director General of ECN and that of the NYSC, Professor E.J. Bala and Bridadier General Shaibu Ibrahim respectively for this laudable synergy.

Declaring the workshop open the Director General/CEO of ECN Engineer (Professor)  Eli Jidere Bala represented by his Technical Assistant   said the training programme on Renewable Energy is a collaborative effort between ECN and NYSC which  commenced in 1999 with the main objective of getting Renewable Energy and its technologies adopted as a business by young men and women in the country, thereby serving as an instrument for self-employment and economic empowerment, promoting the introduction of Renewable Energy aid his technologies to the energy supply mix of a nation in general and to reduce negative climate change effects through the use of Renewable  Energy.

Prof. Bala said one of the strategies employed to achieve the objective is to utilize the most articulate, coherent and active educated group of young men and women of the NYSC..  He thanked the V.C for his cooperation by opening the doors of the University to enable them conduct the training.  The Director  General  ECN also applauded CRET in FUTA  saying “We are impressed with the CRET Centre located in FUTA, what you have here can help in alleviating our energy challenges in the country”.

The DG of NYSC Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim represented by the State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabo said, NYSC is  promoting  the use of Renewable  Energy for sustainable national development and particularly introduce Corp members to Renewable Energy and  technologies. Mrs. Akpabio said , “The idea behind the project is to equip the Corps member with skills on renewable energy devices, so as to enable them step down these devices to their host communities during the service year for the purpose of environmental improvement and quality healthy living. It will also address the energy gap in our rural communities.  The skills required by the Corps members can generate post-service employment and economic empowerment for the Corps members in particular and the nation at large”

In his address at the occasion, Governor of Ondo State , Arakunrin Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu said FUTA  has continued to live up to expectations in the promotion of technological advancement and the training of critical manpower needed by the country.  Akeredolu who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye said   the Akure Tech Hub, a collaborative initiative of the Ondo State Government, domiciled in FUTA is also engaging hundreds of youths with the principal aim of creating a corp of IT savvy youth who are self-sufficient. He thanked the Vice Chancellor of FUTA for providing the facilities and the conducive environment, and in same vein thanked ECN and NYSC for honoring Ondo State, by making it the host for ECN-NYSC Renewable Energy training workshop for the South West zone.