President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated Africa’s first renewable energy college and a Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant in Kogi State, describing the landmark project as a game-changer in Nigeria’s quest to bridge its energy gap and create a new generation of skilled workers.

The institution, known as the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, Osara (BARECKS), is located within the premises of the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Osara, Kogi State.

Represented at the event on Tuesday by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu said the college marks a significant step in Nigeria’s drive to become a continental leader in renewable energy development and technical manpower training.

According to the President, one of Nigeria’s biggest challenges has not been a lack of natural resources but the inability to convert those resources into electricity, jobs and economic opportunities.

“Government is measured by the industries it plants and by the households those industries feed,” Tinubu said, noting that the new institution was designed to address the critical shortage of skilled technical personnel needed to drive Africa’s energy transition.

He described the college as the first of its kind on the African continent, modelled after India’s globally acclaimed vocational training system, which transformed ordinary citizens, including rural women, into solar energy engineers.

“If that method can light the villages of Rajasthan, it can light the settlements of Kogi, Ondo and Cross River. Nigeria assumes from today the position of pacesetter in renewable energy capacity development across Africa,” he stated.

Reflecting on the project’s journey, Tinubu recalled that the foundation for the institution was laid just two years ago.

“Two years ago, we stood on this ground for the groundbreaking of this institution, with red earth underfoot and the ambition of a few determined Nigerians for company. Today, we stand before a world-class edifice completed to international standards,” he said.

Tackling Africa’s Energy Skills Deficit

The President explained that the college was established primarily to fill what he described as the widest gap in Africa’s clean energy transition—the shortage of competent technical manpower.

“Our continent has never suffered a deficit of intention. We have suffered the scarcity of hands trained to execute them,” he said.

He disclosed that the institution would train technicians, installers, operators and maintenance professionals equipped with practical expertise in renewable energy technologies.

Tinubu further revealed that graduates of the college would receive internationally recognised professional certifications, enabling them to compete for employment opportunities both within and outside Nigeria.

“A certificate issued in Osara must one day command respect in Nairobi and in Frankfurt,” he added.

The President also called on development partners, private sector players, international organisations and research institutions to collaborate with the college in advancing research, innovation and technical training across the continent.

FG, Kogi Government Hail Landmark Project

Tinubu commended the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and the Energy Commission of Nigeria for successfully delivering the project. He also praised Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for creating the enabling environment that made the initiative possible.

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Speaking earlier, Governor Ododo described the inauguration as evidence that Nigeria was moving steadily toward sustainable development through strategic investments in human capital.

According to him, the college will not only strengthen the nation’s energy sector through capacity building but also attract investment, stimulate economic growth and create opportunities for local communities.

He praised the Tinubu administration for addressing Nigeria’s longstanding electricity challenges through investments in education, innovation and the knowledge economy.

Ododo said the project further justifies continued support for the President’s development agenda.

Building a Trillion-Dollar Economy Through Skills

Also speaking, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, described the project as a major investment in job creation and human capital development.

He said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s determination to build a knowledge-driven economy capable of supporting Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.

According to the minister, achieving that goal will require a highly skilled workforce in strategic sectors such as renewable energy and emerging technologies.

Udeh urged the pioneer trainees of the institution to maintain high professional and ethical standards while serving as ambassadors of the college.

State-of-the-Art Training Facilities

The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, said the institution is the first renewable energy college of its kind in the country.

He disclosed that the facility boasts modern infrastructure, including smart classrooms, battery energy laboratories, energy-efficiency laboratories, a mini-grid simulation centre and other advanced training facilities designed to meet global standards.

Abdullahi said the college would produce highly skilled professionals capable of driving renewable energy research, innovation and deployment in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Traditional Ruler Welcomes Project

The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ahmed Anaje, welcomed the establishment of the institution, describing it as a transformative project that would equip young Nigerians with valuable technical skills and improve their contribution to national development.

He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for locating the pioneering renewable energy college in Kogi State, saying the project would leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

With the inauguration of BARECKS and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant, Nigeria has taken a significant step toward positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s renewable energy revolution while preparing a skilled workforce for the green economy of the future.