FGN tasks African countries on clean, renewable energy
Story from Abah ADAH, Abuja
As the first edition of Nigeria-Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (NANREIS) kicked-off Wednesday in Abuja, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) urged African countries to close ranks in ensuring that the continent is not left behind in the global paradigm shift from fossil fuel to clean and renewable energy.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development and chief host of the 3-day summit slated for Wednesday, 1 June through Friday, 3 June, 2022, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite, expressed delight to see various African nationals gathering to brainstorm and showcase Africa’s abundant natural resources with a view to creating a framework within which future cooperation and collaboration can take place.
“I believe this should spur us as a continent of diverse people to co-operate and collaborate more, initiate innovative solutions to the challenges that are peculiar to us, come up with technologies and products that will lead to the growth and industrialisation of Africa in a more environment friendly manner while encouraging the development and financing of green energy projects,” he said.
He said Africa requires a huge amount of energy generation to drive its development as the world shifts away from fossil fuel to clean and renewable energy sources in the fight against climate change, adding that in the midst of the energy transition lies many challenges and opportunities for a continent yearning for development.
The President charged all countries who are signatories to the declaration of cooperation to strengthen their shared goals.
“As I welcome you all, I would like to state a Declaration of Cooperation that: “Participating countries in the Declaration of Cooperation would strengthen their cooperation through joint assessment and viewpoints, with the aim of financing sustainable African Natural Resources and Energy Projects that are key to the transition, for the benefit of producers and consumers and to regularly review at technical and ministerial levels the status of our cooperation.
“Our joint meetings and activities will support us in formulating favourable policy and strategy development for the natural resource sector as the world looks towards a greener future. A policy that is less subject to extremes, both today and in the future.
“We must strive to remain committed to our joint statements in the Declaration of Cooperation and ensure continuity. This is beyond attaining short-term, demand-supply balancing, while it calls for strengthening our cooperation through a dynamic and transparent framework for sustainable development in the medium to long term. These technical meetings will undoubtedly form an integral part of this critical process” he concluded.
The maiden Energy Investment Summit which is themed “Towards a Greener Africa” has in attendance: Minister of mines and steel development, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, Minister of mines and energy from Ethiopia, South Sudan, Gambia, Libya, Kenya, Chad. Also present are industry stakeholders, the US-African Trade Council (USAfriTC) among others.
The 3-day summit according to its programme of events is packed with high powered panel sessions, presentations and exhibitions by stakeholders within and outside the continent.
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