President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the Barefoot Renewable Energy College (BARECKS) at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State, describing the institution as a landmark initiative for renewable energy education and youth empowerment in Africa.
Represented at the ceremony on Tuesday by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu said the college was the first of its kind on the African continent.
He explained that the institution was designed to provide practical, hands-on training in solar and other renewable energy technologies, with a special focus on empowering rural communities and training aspiring renewable energy technicians across the region.
The President noted that the establishment of the college reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to clean energy, creating employment opportunities and equipping young Nigerians with relevant technical skills for the future.
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, praised the Tinubu administration for bringing the project to the state, describing it as a strategic investment in human capital development.
Governor Ododo said the college would strengthen the capacity of Kogi youths by providing them with modern technical skills that would promote job creation, technology transfer and economic growth.
He urged young people in the state to seize the opportunity offered by the institution by enrolling to acquire renewable energy skills that would improve their livelihoods.
Also speaking, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, lauded President Tinubu’s commitment to promoting sustainable renewable energy education in the country.
He described the commissioning of the college as a significant milestone in advancing renewable energy education, skills development and community empowerment, adding that the project would serve as a model for similar initiatives across Africa.