The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) said Nigeria must utilise its oil and gas energy resources to drive the economy and create massive jobs for the youths.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s national conference, on Monday in Abuja.
The communique signed by Dr Elizabeth Eterigho, APWEN President, said the utilisation of the resources would also drive industrialization and provide electricity for over 200 million Nigerians.
“The Just energy transition can be aided by investment in various human capital development strategies and will create alternatives to people and regions in Nigeria trapped in fossil fuel dynamics.
“These strategies must be carried out by the government, the energy companies as well as all other energy stakeholders,’’ it added.
The association said for Nigeria’s energy transition plan to be achieved, over 18 million jobs must be created.
APWEN stressed that energy sufficiency in the country should always occupy the front burner of national discourse.
It added that energy transition should be an enabler to addressing energy sufficiency in the country.
“Nigeria needs to invest in the plan, taking into consideration traditional energy sources and renewable energy system.
“We should use our resources to push for energy sufficiency and as part of the solution, we have to be enabled to achieve it as we are not the major polluters,’’ the association said.
It observed that the renewable energy sector has numerous unexplored potentials
APWEN suggested that appropriate funds, partnerships and technology be sought to accelerate large investments in renewable energy, in line with the global decarbonization movement.
It further recommended the education of the girl-child through mentorship and professional development programmes.
They said motivating female students to pursue engineering and science programme was an enabler for sustainable development in Nigeria.
The association stressed the need for gradual and flexible approach to the energy transition for developing countries like Nigeria.
“We should be talking more about energy mix than energy transition,’’ APWEN said.
According to them, biomass wastes conversion presents opportunities for addressing global energy crises and efficient waste management problem.
The association noted that the prospect of using biomass for electricity generation was capital intensive.
They judged that land availability, plant location, scale and choice of technology and distribution of economic benefits were factors to be considered in deploying biomass as an off-grid power generation in Nigeria.
“It is a suitable alternative for sustainable energy transition in Nigeria
“The need for active involvement and participation of women engineers in the decade of gas initiative by the Federal Government cannot be overemphasized.
“Diversity has advanced beyond a feel-good effort or a government requirement, to a form of corporate social responsibility,’’ they said.
The association added that the energy transition would be fast tracked with professionalism, instead of politicking.
