Weert Borner, the Consul-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Nigeria, has reiterated Germany’s commitment to working with Nigeria and helping it make the switch to renewable energy.
During a lecture on Wednesday at Lagos State University (LASU) hosted by the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Borner stressed the significance of Nigeria’s transition to renewable energy for improving its energy infrastructure and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. “Africa-Europe Roundtable on Renewable Energy” was the subject of the event.
“It is crucial for Nigeria to develop or transition entirely to renewable energy as it is a viable business model for improving the energy grid,” Borner stated. “This transition will also help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Borner highlighted Germany’s progress in renewable energy, noting the commissioning of wind energy and photovoltaic (PV) systems with a capacity of 17.5GW and the installation of almost 10,100km of grid over the past six years. He also mentioned that as of 2023, 1.23 million electric vehicles were on German roads.
“Germany is uniquely positioned to drive the energy system transformation in Europe. We are actively promoting the energy transition,” he added. “Renewable electricity is cheaper than conventional electricity, and our electricity supply security remains among the highest worldwide.”
Borner underscored the benefits of renewable energy, including job creation, investment stimulation, and economic growth, citing Germany’s experience as evidence.
In his remarks, Mr. Chibeze Ezekiel, Coordinator of the Strategic Youth Network for Development, called for European support to equip African youth leaders with the skills and platforms needed to enhance climate resilience and energy access.
Ezekiel, who also chairs the Youth, Natural Resource, and Environmental Governance platform, noted the potential for job creation in the renewable energy sector.
“Renewable energy promises more jobs for young people,” Ezekiel said. “Youth environmentalists can be supported with grants and technical assistance.”
Mrs. Outi Luova, a lecturer at the University of Turku, Finland, emphasized the role of universities in promoting sustainability. She suggested that universities should support environmental sustainability champions globally and offer practical courses on sustainability through case studies.
Dr. Tobi Oshodi, a lecturer at LASU’s Department of Political Science, stressed the need for Africa to develop local technologies for renewable energy. He highlighted Africa’s abundant renewable energy resources, such as sunlight, water, and wind, which are sufficient for industrialization and energy sharing.
“Africa must design deliberate and measurable strategies to localize technology for tapping into renewable energy resources,” Oshodi said. “We have the natural resources to produce batteries for solar panels and electric vehicles.”
The seminar concluded with a call for strategic partnerships and deliberate actions to harness Africa’s renewable energy potential.
