Enugu Government Plans 792,000 Jobs in Sustainability Sectors

The Enugu State Government in Southeast Nigeria has announced its plan to create 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management, and reforestation by 2060, as part of its efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation.

The Secretary to State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this to newsmen at the end of the Sunday State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting in Enugu.

He said that the state government had approved the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), making it the first subnational government in the country to adopt a long-term climate strategy incorporating emissions modelling, micro-energy, and audits.

Onyia also disclosed that the EXCO also approved the Enugu State Off-Grid Electrification Policy Strategy Plan to expand electricity access to unserved and underserved communities.

This, he said, leveraged the distributed renewable energy solutions to drive economic growth and improve public service delivery.

“This action plan will help us enhance economic growth and is very important for us in job creation.

“We are looking at a situation where we facilitate the creation of 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management, and reforestation by 2060.

“In terms of sustainable economic growth, ESCPAP is projected to drive a 25-fold increase in the state’s Gross Domestic Product by 2060 through investments in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technology.

“On energy transition, the state, going by the policy, targets 80 percent renewable energy usage by 2060, with a 60 percent emissions reduction in the transport sector and a robust afforestation plan to enhance carbon sequestration,” Onyia said.

He further said that ESCPAP underscored Governor Peter Mbah’s administration’s commitment to balancing economic transformation, environmental sustainability, innovation, inclusiveness, and climate resilience.

The SSG said the move ensured that the key sectors, such as agriculture, energy, and natural resources, were climate-resilient and future-proofed against environmental challenges.

According to him, ESCPAP represents a pioneering effort to facilitate clean energy development, stimulate job creation, and foster green technology advancements.

“We do recall that Enugu State had started this policy design in the past eight months, and finally, after the surveys and after crunching the numbers from various instruments we used, we have come up with a policy and action plan.

“The comprehensive policy and action plan include the setting up of an ESCPAP Implementation Committee, comprising representatives from the government, private sector, civil society, and international donor organisations.

“This is to ensure effective execution of the policy’s goals as well as the introduction of a climate change curriculum in Enugu’s Smart Green Schools to equip the future generations with knowledge and skills in green innovation,” he said.

Also, Onyia said the Off-Grid Policy “is designed to complement the Enugu State Electrification Policy that was passed in 2023 as the Enugu Electricity Law.

“This provides a framework that would catalyse private sector investment, enhance socio-economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life of Enugu people.

“This policy also recognises the importance of distributed renewable energy solutions, such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. These will be the key drivers for electrification in the rural and peri-urban areas.”

“All these, according to the government, are in sync with the Mbah administration’s drive to grow Enugu’s economy to a $30 billion economy by 2031,” the SSG said.