Aug 4, 2026

VP Shettima Arrives Kogi to Commission Landmark Renewable Energy Projects

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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Osara, Kogi State – August 4, 2026— Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in Kogi State on Tuesday to commission two landmark renewable energy facilities designed to boost Nigeria’s clean energy capacity and develop a skilled green workforce.

The Vice President was received on arrival by Kogi State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, alongside senior government officials and other dignitaries.

He is expected to commission the Barefoot Renewable Energy College (BARECKS) and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant, both located at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Osara.

Strengthening Nigeria’s Clean Energy Future

According to officials, the facilities form part of the Federal Government’s broader drive for national energy sufficiency under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

They are designed to expand technical and vocational training in renewable energy, promote clean-energy research and innovation, and equip young Nigerians with practical skills needed for a green industrial future.

The Barefoot Renewable Energy College is being described as the second institution of its kind in the world after a similar facility in India.

The Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant ranks among the notable such facilities on the African continent. Both projects are initiatives of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).

High-Level Delegation

Vice President Shettima is accompanied by the Minister of innovation, science, and technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, and the Minister of steel development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, among other senior officials.

The commissioning comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its energy mix, reduce over-reliance on fossil fuels, and position itself for opportunities in the global green economy.

Officials say the college will train technicians and professionals capable of installing, operating, and maintaining renewable energy systems, while the hydrogen plant will support research into cleaner fuel alternatives and related industrial applications.

A Step Toward Energy Security

Speaking ahead of the event, stakeholders described the projects as more than infrastructure — a strategic investment in human capital and long-term energy security.

The Energy Commission of Nigeria, under Director-General Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, has positioned the Osara facilities as a model for practical, skills-driven renewable energy education across the country.

As the Vice President proceeds with the commissioning, attention turns to how quickly the new institutions can begin producing the technicians, researchers and innovators Nigeria needs to power its clean energy transition.

The development marks another concrete step in the administration’s effort to translate the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible infrastructure that supports both energy access and economic opportunity for Nigerian youths.