ECN: In Line With The President’s Vision

*A THINKING HEAD*

The last piece of this column spoke about the resolve of the Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullåhi, not to leave any stone unturned in pursuing, aggressively, the mandate put upon his shoulders as the numero uno in charge of the country’s energy wherewithal by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He has, at every given occasion – whether home, here in Nigeria, or outside the shores of the country, reiterated his decision to justify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to give young Nigerians opportunities in leadership of the country. Dr. Abdullåhi is one of the young Nigerians recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to prove to the world that Nigeria is not deficient in human capacity development. How has the new ECN Boss faired in the last 4 months of his assumption of office? Is he just there in acting capacity without thinking or acting his thought? What has become of the agency under his ascendancy since coming on board? Let us have a quick review;

*ACTING HIS THOUGHTS*

Prior to #COP28UAE, which held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) where over 70,000 participants that included world leaders, climate change advocates, rights activists, private sector practitioners, business owners among many others participated, and where he (Dr. Abdullåhi) gave a speech that could simply be described as chef d’oeuvre, he had, in so short aa time, brought the Commission to limelight in what could be described as never before. For an agency created over 3 decades ago, but which remained in obscurity for many years, the _ECN Boss_ got the *Commission* in the news consistently for weeks, intimating the public of his leadership’s readiness to revamp the country’s energy sector. Until his appointment, not many Nigerians were aware of the existence of such monumental *Commission*. For the previous administrations, it was always about academic work. Meanwhile, the mandate of the *Commission* was beyond mere research work. The *Director-General* therefore did not waste time when he gave a laconic rendition of his blueprint at the largest world gathering in 2023, the *#COP28UAE*.

*AFTER #COP28UAE, WHAT NEXT?*

As stated above, the United Nations Climate Change conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) tagged *#COP28UAE* provided a fertile ground for *Dr. Abdullåhi*, the _Director-General^, _Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)_ to further showcase his episteme and noesis of the task at hand, and to engage relevant stakeholders in bringing to fruition, his vision for the agency – the *Energy Commission*. He would therefore engage *President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)* himself on the sidelines of the event in a têtê-a-têtê, especially on Mr. President’s _Energy Transition Plan_. He would follow up this with a roundtable engagement with critical stakeholders which included the *Minister for Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu*, the *Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri* among others. Aside his beautiful speech on *#CleanCooling* at the world’s largest gathering of 2023, he signed a number of partnership agreements which included a tripartite agreement facilitated by *Bridge Synergy*, an international consultancy firm involving _Niger State Government_, _Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)_ and the _Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)_ to promote wind energy development through a *Joint Implementation Committee*.

WALKING THE TALK

a. *RSeD-SS LAUNCHED*

As the lead agency for energy policy in the country, the *Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)* under the leadership of *Dr. Mustapha Abdullåhi* on January 30, 2024 launched the _Residential Sector Energy Demand-Side Survey (RSeD-SS)_ in collaboration with the *Ministry of Power* and the *National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)*. The project which has *European Union* (Nigeria office) and *International Energy Agency* as international partners heralded a clear departure from the status quo in the *Commission* and signalled the significant strides of ECN new leadership towards building a sustainable energy wherewithal in the country.

The survey, as a concept, aims at collecting extensive data on energy consumption patterns across the country. This would ultimately provide a robust foundation for evidence-based policymaking and strategic planning towards the *Commission*’s goal congruence

b. *CLEAN COOLING*

On the sidelines of the *#COP28UAE* climate change conference, the *Director-General, Dr. Abdullåhi* gave an address at a high-level meeting attended by world leaders and other critical stakeholders on climate change. That particular event witnessed the launch of the Global Cooling Pledge tagged *#GlobalCoolingPledge* on Clean Cooling, an initiative that was already championed back home in Nigeria by the *Commission* under his leadership in partnership with the *United Nations on Environment Programme (UNEP)*. Further to this, the *Energy Commission* honcho, in walking the talk at the *#COP28UAE* climate change conference, would on Saturday, March 2, 2024 launched a sensitization campaign on the use of improved wood stoves in Kurudu village, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The reason for this is not far-fetched. The need had become imperative to change the trend where Nigeria would record millions of premature deaths, a corollary of the use of traditional biomass stoves in major households, particularly the hinterlands which are in the majority population.

_*“As you all know, cooking with traditional biomass stoves is a major source of household air pollution, which causes millions of premature deaths every year, especially among women and children. It also contributes to deforestation, climate change, and energy poverty. These are serious challenges that we must address as a nation. That is why the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) under my leadership has initiated this campaign to promote the adoption and use of improved wood stoves in your community.” – Dr. Mustapha Abdullåhi*_

Above were the submission of the *ECN* boss at the launch of the initiative which is line with the Renewed Hope agenda of the Tinubu administration to secure lives and properties.

c. *INSTITUTIONAL REWORK*

The major focus of the Clean Cooling initiative is to guarantee energy efficiency and see a drastic reduction in global emissions occasioned by climate change. At the #COP28UAE, the deal for a transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy system, in a just, orderly and equitable manner was agreed. The global goal to triple renewables and double energy efficiency would see a drive towards reducing global warming to 1°C by year 2050. The Energy Commission with his new drive has hit the ground running in pursuing that. And that is why today, the various institutes under the *Commission* have now refocused its attention on products that would see to attaining such target, the results of which are already manifesting. At the just concluded annual *Expo Summit* of the _Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation_, which held between Monday, March 11 through Friday, March 15, 2024, various products of the institutes under the *Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)* were showcased to the world. Some of these products which aim at reducing carbon emissions, thereby securing the environment in line with the *Renewed Hope* agenda of Mr. President include but not limited to;

● Solar panel PV system with more durability and efficiency than imported products produced by the *Energy Commission* institutes from *Sokoto* and *Enugu States*. These machines are capable of supplying energy to power household electrical and electronic items such water heater, radios and TV sets, fans among others.

● A hydrocarbon drilling machine craftly produced by the *Commission*’s institute in *Bauchi State* that is eco-friendly and conforms with the *Commission*’s mandate on sustainable green energy.

● A machine called _Smart Energy Meter Saver_ produced by the *Commission*’s institute at the *University of Lagos* that is capable of conserving and regulating energy and can be subsequently distributed to other users.

● Wood stoves designed to burn fuel wood more efficiently, thereby reducing harmful emissions and promoting healthier environment.

All of these products when mass-produce in large quantities (which is the ultimate plan) will not only generate additional funds for the country, it will also;

● Reduce, drastically, the pressure on the country’s currency (Naira) against the United States dollar as the country retains more forex in the country.

● Guarantee a secured environment in line with the recent global call for countries to jettison dependence on fossil fuels.

● Provide more employment opportunities with multiplier effect on the economy, thereby increasing the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

*UNENDING ADVOCACY*

As a man with clear vision, undaunted courage and firm resolve to rework the entire energy architecture of the country for more result-oriented and purpose-driven goal, the _Director-General_, *Dr. Abdullåhi* continues to advocate for a sustainable renewable and green energy pursuit not only in Nigeria but also in Africa countries and beyond. Only recently, *Dr. Abdullåhi* was in far-away South Africa where he went to speak at a _Break-away Panel 14 on Demand-side Imperative_ of a conference and seminar tagged, *#AfricaEnergyIndaba: Solutions for Africa*.

At the event which held at the _Cape Town International Convention Centre_ in Cape Town, *South Africa*, the *Commission* boss brought to bear his experience in recent times in the area of energy adjustability, energy revamp, and energy usability in line with renewable and green energy solutions.

*MINISTER UCHE NNAJI: THE PIROUETTE OF SUPPORT*

Worthy of note and mention is the incontrovertible fact that whatever measurable milestone (s) *Dr. Mustapha Abdullåhi* may have recorded in so short a period is/are traceable to the huge support he enjoys from his *Supervising Minister, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji*, the _Honourable Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation_. It takes one thing to be intelligent. It is another ball game entirely to be trusted by your direct boss. Such is the uncommon camaraderie that exists between *Dr. Abdullåhi* and his boss, the Minister.

The Minister at every given occasion has always expressed his firm belief in the capacity and competence of the *Energy boss* to deliver on assignments. Aside helping in policy guidance, he had also helped in ensuring that the *Commission* got a better budgetary allocation in the *2024 Appropriation*, unlike the recent past. Only last week, during the Minister’s tour of Energy Commission’s stands at the just concluded *Expo Summit 2024* of the _Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry_, the Minister made further commitment to ensure success of the *Commission* to reflect Mr. President’s *Renewed Hope* promise. This, he said became germane following the quick transformation of the *Commission* under *Dr. Abdullåhi* just in few months.

*IN CONCLUSION*

For *Dr. Mustapha Abdullåhi*, there is no better time to save Nigeria than now. This is a resolve he is committed to, a cause he has vowed to pursue aggressively with all his grits and guts. And he is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that Nigerians do not regret ever casting their votes for the *Renewed Hope* agenda of *President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR*.

*OMOGBOLAHAN BABAWALE*
SA, Strategy & Communications
*Office of the Director-General*

Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)