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47% of Nigerians lack access to electricity – UNIDO.

...As FG launches $2.8m National Clean tech Innovation Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

By Stanley Iwuoha

The United Nations Development Organisation, UNIDO has praised Federal government for committing $2.8 million to Clean technology.

The National Programme Coordinator – Environment and Energy, UNIDO Regional Office in Nigeria, Mr. Oluyomi Banjo made the commendation on Wednesday at the official launch of the National Cleantech Innovation Entrepreneurship Ecosystem under the Project “Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP) Nigeria” in Abuja.

Mr. Banjo said that Nigeria has one of the highest energy poverty rates in the world: about 47% of its population does not have access to grid electricity and those who do have access, face regular power cuts and praised the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology for committing the sum of 2.8m USD to further improving clean technology in Nigeria, which for him shows that Nigeria is taking sustainable development seriously.

“Nigeria is a lower-middle-income country with a GDP of 472.64 billion USD and GDP per capita of 2,162 USD (World Bank, 2022). Nigeria’s economy is heavily reliant on fossil fuels and petroleum represents a huge percentage of its total exports’ revenue.

“Despite the Importance of energy to the country’s economy, low access to modern energy services remains one of the principal constraints to Nigeria’s economic development.

“It is also important to note that Nigeria has one of the highest energy poverty rates in the world: about 47% of its population does not have access to grid electricity and those who do have access, face regular power cuts.”
Speaking on the impact of unreliable power supply the nation’s economy, the UNIDO Coordinator said, “the economic impact of unreliable grid operations is estimated to be around 28 billion USD.

“Lack of reliable access to electricity is also one of the major constraints to the private sector according to the 2020 Doing Business Report of World Bank.”

He therefore, called for improving power sector performance, particularly in the non-oil sector, which he said will be crucial to foster economic growth.

He however, reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment to support Nigeria in her clean technology development without compromising the quality of the environment.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji said the ministry prioritised the Clean Technology initiative because small and medium enterprises were vital for socio-economic growth of the nation.

The Minister stated that the nation recognizes the critical role start-ups, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play in driving economic development, enhancing renewable access and contributing to broader climate change actions in the country.
He however pointed out that Small and Medium Enterprises often face significant challenges in commercializing and scaling their solutions due to insufficient policy and regulatory support, limited financing opportunities, and general weak innovation eco-system in the nation.

‘’Today we embark on a journey of transformative change, driven by collective efforts of the Global Cleantech Innovation Program(GCIP), this UNIDO-led initiative, sponsored by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to bridge the gap between Cleantech Entrepreneurs and the Market, often referred to as the “valley of death” by providing competitive, business acceleration services for innovative Cleantech Startups and SMEs. It seeks to foster an enabling environment for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Country’’.

He stressed that the Ministry with valuable support from UNIDO aims to build, strengthen, and interconnect the institutional capacity of the stakeholders in developing policy regulations and recommendations, promoting linkages and collaborations across Global Council on International Educational Exchange, (CIEE) towards ensuring gender and youths mainstreaming into the economy of the nation.
To this end, the Minister commended all stakeholders for their unwavering support and commitment towards creating a sustainable future for Nigeria.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye said that the programme is aimed at boosting the capacities of small and medium enterprises in order to improve the economic growth and maintain clean energy in the Country, adding that it will enhance reduction in the use of Fossil oil and Firewood to curb carbon emission.
Earlier in her remarks, the Director General bof National Board for Technology Incubation, Dr. Patricia Chukwu said the board has been encouraging the acquisition of production equipment that are relatively environmentally friendly.

In the same vein, she said the agency had birthed over Nine Thousand (9000) innovative entrepreneurs from about fifty (50) Technology Incubation Centres located all over the states of Nigeria in in line with its culture of prioritizing the environmental wellbeing in its operation procedures.

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