President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday signalled a major shift in Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy with the inauguration of Africa’s first Renewable Energy College, saying the country is investing in the skills needed to power the continent’s clean energy future.
The President said the establishment of the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, Osara (BARECKS) and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant marks Nigeria’s transition from merely discussing renewable energy to building the human capital required to lead Africa’s green economy.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning ceremony in Kogi State, Tinubu said the institution was created to address one of Africa’s biggest development challenges—the shortage of skilled professionals capable of driving the renewable energy revolution.
Rather than exporting raw resources and importing technology, he said Nigeria is now positioning itself to produce the engineers, technicians, installers and innovators who will shape the future of energy across the continent.
“This institution answers a fundamental question: who will build and maintain Africa’s energy future? From today, Nigeria is preparing that workforce,” the President said.
He described the project as the first of its kind in Africa, adding that it places Nigeria at the forefront of renewable energy capacity development.
Tinubu noted that although Nigeria possesses enormous renewable energy resources, including abundant sunshine, wind, biomass and water, the country has struggled to convert those natural assets into reliable electricity, industrial growth and sustainable employment.
According to him, the new college is designed to bridge that gap by producing globally competitive professionals equipped with practical skills in renewable energy technologies.
He expressed optimism that graduates of the institution would obtain internationally recognised certifications, enabling them to compete for opportunities within and outside Nigeria while supporting the country’s energy transition.
The President also called on development partners, universities, research institutions and private investors to collaborate with the college in advancing innovation, technology transfer and technical education.
He commended the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, and the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, for delivering the project, while praising the Kogi State Government for providing the enabling environment for its success.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo described the project as a strategic investment that would strengthen Nigeria’s human capital, attract investment into the renewable energy sector and expand economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
He said the institution demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a knowledge-based economy capable of meeting future energy demands.
Also speaking, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, said Nigeria’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy depends on developing a highly skilled workforce in emerging sectors, particularly renewable energy.
The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, said the college is equipped with modern laboratories, smart classrooms, battery testing facilities and a mini-grid simulation centre to provide practical, industry-focused training.
For the host community, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Anaje, described the project as a landmark intervention that will equip young Nigerians with globally relevant technical skills while stimulating local economic growth.
Beyond the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, the commissioning reflects the Federal Government’s broader strategy of positioning Nigeria to compete in the rapidly expanding global clean energy market by investing in technology, research and the workforce that will drive the next generation of industrial development.