The Nigeria Wind Energy Council (NWEC) has officially been launched in Abuja, the nation’s capital, signalling a significant leap forward in the country’s renewable energy landscape.
Incubated by the Nextier Group, NWEC aims to harness Nigeria’s vast wind energy potential and drive its adoption nationwide.
The launch brought together key stakeholders from government, international development agencies, the private sector, and academia, all aligned in their commitment to transforming Nigeria’s energy mix.
Temitope Omowumi, NWEC Council Coordinator, who emphasized the Council’s role in addressing the untapped wind energy potential in Nigeria, said the event “is a showcase of the potential, gaps, and opportunities within Nigeria’s wind energy sector. We look forward to shaping the future of wind energy in the country through strategic collaborations and targeted actions”.
Representatives from government agencies, including Osana Samson from the Ministry of Power and Glory Onyegbule from NiMet, delivered goodwill messages, highlighting the need for a clean energy transition.
“Wind energy offers a unique opportunity to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint while achieving the nation’s climate commitments,” Onyegbule stated.
The European Union, represented by Godfrey Ogbemudia, expressed ongoing discussions with NWEC on joint support for Nigeria’s wind energy industry.
International speakers, such as Wangari Muchuri from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), emphasized that Nigeria’s focus should not be about catching up but shaping the wind energy industry.
“With NWEC now established, it’s time to make sure Nigeria benefits from this crucial renewable resource,” Muchuri noted.
A series of presentations and panel discussions followed, exploring topics such as wind energy policy, off-grid and decentralized power solutions, and global wind energy trends.
The event also featured a detailed presentation by NWEC on Nigeria’s Wind Resource Mapping and the development of a Wind Atlas, an essential tool for advancing wind energy deployment.
Ademola Ogunbanjo, Executive Vice President at Oando Clean Energy Limited, stressed the importance of wind energy in Nigeria’s off-grid solutions.
“NWEC has our full support as we work together to promote investments in clean energy, particularly wind,” Ogunbanjo remarked.
The event concluded with a call to action from NWEC’s leadership, urging government bodies, development partners, and the private sector to collaborate in scaling up wind energy projects.
“Together, we can unlock Nigeria’s wind potential and significantly contribute to improving the country’s energy mix,” Omowumi stated in his closing remarks.
