Groups move to boost renewable energy projectsThe Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Africa Leadership Forum and Privida Energy to facilitate the development of renewable energy projects in order to reduce the cost of electricity for entrepreneurs in the country.

Representatives of both parties explained that the multi-facetted project would expose trainees to how solar power could be designed, generated, installed, marketed and maintained.

They stressed that the short-term alternative power source would provide small scale businesses and private users with constant supply of power through the use of solar technology.

The Executive Director, ALF, Olumide Ajayi, told intending trainees and other stakeholders that were present at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Entrepreneurship Development Centre, South West zone, Ibadan, that the nation’s unemployment rate had widened consistently due to lack of regular power supply.
He said despite the zeal and creativity of the nation’s youth, the drive to contribute positively to the nation’s economy was doused by their inability to power their dreams to reality.

He said, “I don’t think that the nation’s power challenges can be resolved any time soon. To solve energy problem in the country, we must adopt short-term approach. The emphasis of this partnership is solar energy empowerment scheme which will allow people to connect to uninterrupted power supply.”

The Founder, Provida Energy, Mr. Omozaphve Akalumhe, said in his speech that the initiative was part of his organisation’s target, which was built into its long-term plan of providing renewable energy at affordable cost between now and 2025.

He said, “There are a couple of things we want to try to do between now and 2025. This includes working with our partners across the globe to create thousands of jobs for many Nigerians and providing uninterrupted power supply in the country.

“Our concern is to ensure a safe and clean environment, economic empowerment and availability of energy to people of this country. Privida focus will explore solar energy for the betterment of Nigerians.”
Akalumhe also promised that his company was committed to bringing resource persons and partners across the globe to impact on the Nigerian youths by providing lasting solution to energy problems
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