The wife of Ekiti State Governor Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, has called for a collective effort that will involve combined strength of government, players in the private sectors, academia, and international partners to actualize a sustainable and prosperous future, powered by clean energy.
Dr. Oyebanji made the call at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, during the 2024 International Hydrogen Summit,
themed “Catalyzing Green Hydrogen Development in Nigeria – The Capacity and Partnership Imperatives”.
According to Dr. Oyebanji, the world is moving rapidly towards renewable energy and green hydrogen will provide an opportunity to position the country as a leader in the hydrogen economy.
“Building hydrogen plants, pipelines, distribution networks is a crucial not just for our own energy needs but to position Nigeria as a top exporter of green hydrogen”. She said.
She explained that the Green hydrogen could help decarbonize industries like heavy manufacturing ones, transportation and aviation that were major users of fuel engines.
The first Lady noted that Nigeria has a unique advantage with potentials to produce green hydrogen at competitive prices with abundant sunlight, wind, water, which were major tools of producing green hydrogen on a large scale.
She maintained that such a step could secure the country’s energy future, drive economic growth, and create jobs for teaming unemployed youths as well as reshape the economy.
Also speaking at the event, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola thanked the organizers of the summit for choosing ABUAD for the summit and urged that the Federal government should give money to public Universities for research and ensure that whatever research that is being carried out is implemented.
He encouraged participants to pursue their resolutions to the point of implementation in order to make impacts. “Pursue your resolutions, after all, ideas rule the world, but it is only those who implement their ideas that are deemed successful”. Aare Afe Babalola said.
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Earlier in his remark, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako said that the Federal government recognized that Nigeria must embrace transition into energy sources such as solar and wind for buoyant economy.
He noted that the environmental benefits cannot be overstated as it would reduce carbon emissions in transportation and production sectors.
Similarly, the Director General Energy Commission Of Nigeria, Alhaji Mustapha Abdullahi stressed that the Green hydrogen initiative aligned with broader climate goals as critical tool of long term zero emission by 2060.