Barefoot Renewable Energy College, Kogi State, a game-changer – Prof. Olu Obafemi
Acclaimed academic and elder statesman, Professor Olu Obafemi, has hailed the establishment of the Barefoot Renewable Energy College in Kogi State as a game-changer for the country, especially for rural communities.
Prof. Obafemi, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State, stated this in his welcome speech at the recent groundbreaking ceremony of the College.
He noted that they were, at the well attended ceremony, “breaking new grounds for a future where access to renewable energy is assured, carbon emissions are significantly reduced, and economic empowerment is within reach for all,” stressing that a foundation was being laid for the creation of “a legacy that will benefit generations yet unborn.”
He told his audience, which included the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, top federal and state government officials and academics, that the “College will serve as a cornerstone for equipping rural dwellers with the skills and knowledge they need to harness renewable energy sources, particularly in the area of solar technology.”
A National Merit Award winner and internationally celebrated literary personality, Prof. Olufemi pointed out that “by fostering entrepreneurship, self-sufficiency, livelihood development, and environmental sustainability, this programme will empower communities to achieve economic independence and improve the quality of their lives.”
He appreciated the contributions of the different stakeholders, especially the state governor, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, and the Director-General of the Energy Commission, to the realization of the innovative and transformative project that promotes clean energy and socio-economic development.
Noting that the whole project, which was brought by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Energy Commission, through the instrumentation of the Governor, will serve as a model for clean energy and rural development across the country, he pointed out that it will focus on training students in renewable technologies, sustainability and community development.
He recalled that the University had days before the groundbreaking ceremony organized a public lecture on climate change, highlighting the menace of logging for charcoal production in Osara and its environs, a problem which will be tackled as the College begins to fulfill its purpose of promotion of renewable energy.
