The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has reaffirmed his party’s dedication to ensuring energy sufficiency for both households and businesses across Nigeria, a critical factor for the country’s economic growth and the well-being of its citizens. He made this statement during the inauguration of the World Bank-supported Core Building of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Represented by the former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi, Ganduje emphasized that energy plays a central role in the national development plan, underlining its importance in achieving sustainable human and economic growth under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Ganduje commended the efforts of ACE-SPED in addressing Nigeria’s ongoing energy challenges. He specifically praised the leadership of Professor Emenike Ejiogu, who led the team in securing a $6 million grant for the center, as well as additional grants totaling over $500,000. According to Ganduje, projects like ACE-SPED are essential for repositioning the nation towards a brighter future.
In his address, the Chairman of the UNN Governing Council, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), expressed confidence that the ACE-SPED initiative would help resolve the university’s power crisis and contribute to reducing the high cost of electricity. He expressed optimism that the center would also address broader energy challenges facing Sub-Saharan Africa.
Professor Ejiogu, in turn, highlighted the center’s ongoing efforts to advance sustainable energy solutions. The new facility features state-of-the-art laboratories, including a Materials Characterisation Lab, a 3D Electronics Prototyping Lab, and a Centre for Competence in Digital Education (C-CoDE). Ejiogu reiterated ACE-SPED’s commitment to finding viable, environmentally friendly energy solutions for the region, acknowledging the support from the World Bank, the African Development Fund, and the National Universities Commission.
Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Professor Polycarp Chigbu, lauded ACE-SPED as a beacon of excellence in energy research. He praised the center’s progress in developing innovative biomass waste-to-energy systems, which will help UNN reduce its reliance on traditional energy sources.
This inauguration represents a significant step toward Nigeria’s energy independence and underscores ACE-SPED’s pivotal role in driving forward sustainable energy research, a critical component of the global transition to greener energy solutions.
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