The Nigerian government is set to partner with the People’s Republic of China on the development of a renewable energy research center that will boost renewable energy technology in some selected Nigerian Universities.
The proposed partnership between the Chinese and Nigerian Universities is expected to build and upgrade centres of excellence in renewable energy technologies which includes; Green Energy- Solar, Wind, Hydro, Bio-energy, Energy efficiency and management.
Nigeria’s Minister of state for Science, Technology and Innovation, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi disclosed this while receiving on behalf of the Ministry a donation of Solar panel equipment from the department of commerce Yunan Province and Kunming Engineering Corporation Ltd of the People’s Republic of China in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
According to the Minister, prior to the Chinese engagement, the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation had also had an ongoing discussion regarding engineering co-orporation, to have MoU particularly in the areas of exchange of knowledge with some selected universities in the country focusing on technology.
Barrister Abdullahi also stated that the support received from China is going to help stem the tide of urban rural migration, as lack of power is the major problem in rural areas.
He further stated that the ministry will appoint a committee to look at the process of selecting beneficiaries in the rural areas to see how the solar system can be deployed.
The country representative of Power China in Nigeria, Ji Yuxin said that the donation is in line with promoting green technology in rural communities and is also a part of the “Belt and road initiative”.
He added that the donation is a project that aims to provide the solution of electricity shortages in rural areas where the national grid is not accessible.
Emmanuel Ukoh
