The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the European Union (EU) have been commended for promoting small hydropower
development in Nigeria.
The Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar
Kyari, and Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, gave the
commendation at the two-day capacity building workshop with the theme:
“Small Hydropower Development for Agro Industry Use In Nigeria”
organised by the UNIDO and EU in Abuja.
The workshop is in collaboration with the Federal Ministries of Power,
Water Resources and Sanitation, Rural Electrification Agency (REA),
and Energy Commission Of Nigeria (ECN).
The Minister of Agriculture, represented by the deputy director,
Renewable Energy of the Ministry, Engr Adebayo Adedeji, said the
workshop aligns with the ministry’s vision of ensuring sustainable
agricultural transformation and food security.
He stressed that reliable and affordable energy is essential for
powering irrigation systems, processing facilities, and storage
infrastructure.
“As we advance towards building resilient food systems, the role of
renewable energy-particularly small hydropower cannot be overstated.
It is clean, sustainable, and locally adoptable energy source that
supports economic development,” Kyari said.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev,
who was represented by a director in the ministry, Ngozi Aboho,
commended the two organisations for their shared commitment to
improving access to affordable and reliable energy for all along the
agricultural value chain and other businesses.
He said the development of small hydropower holds immense promise for
Nigeria’s rural electrification and agricultural transformation.
The minister stated that the federal government remains dedicated to
promoting clean energy initiatives in line with the nation’s national
development goals and international climate commitment.
“As a nation blessed with abundant water resources and arable land, we
are uniquely positioned to leverage renewable energy to power
agro-industry growth, enhance livelihood, food security, create jobs
and reduce our carbon footprint,” the minister said.
In a welcome address, the national programme officer, UNIDO, Dr Rueben
Bamidele, said UNIDO and EU are responding to the power challenges in
Nigeria by promoting the use of renewable energy sources to generate
electricity by setting-up small hydropower (SHP) schemes in the
country.
Bamidele underscored the fact that Nigeria is endowed with a vast
number of renewable energy sources, including hydropower, wind, solar
and biomass. According to him among these renewable energy sources,
small hydropower holds great potential for providing access to
electricity.
He said recent government estimates suggest a hydropower potential of
approximately 24,000MW, of which SHP accounts for 3,500MW.
He stated that the workshop focused on building the capacity of policy
and decision makers, renewable energy project developers and relevant
financial institutions to effectively develop and implement small
hydropower projects in Nigeria.
Some of the key objectives of the program, according to him, is to
raise awareness among stakeholders on the viability of small
hydropower as an effective means of generating electricity and
enhancing economic development.
Others are to provide decision makers with an overview of the current
barriers and solutions to scaling-up renewable energy investments in
Nigeria, and to promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge –
base in SHP development as well as enable participants to review the
strategic import.
