The Energy Commission of Nigeria has inaugurated Africa's first Barefoot Renewable Energy College at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State, in a commissioning ceremony attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday.

Tinubu described the institution as a landmark initiative for renewable energy education and youth empowerment, stating that it demonstrates the Federal Government's commitment to expanding access to clean energy, creating employment opportunities and equipping young Nigerians with technical skills needed for the future economy.

The college, branded BARECKS and modelled on India's globally acclaimed Barefoot College, is designed to bridge the gap between practical technical training and university based research by providing opportunities for Nigerians from diverse educational backgrounds to acquire industry relevant renewable energy skills. Its facilities include renewable energy laboratories, photovoltaic and solar thermal workshops, battery storage and power electronics laboratories, mini grid simulation platforms, wind and bioenergy training centres, electric vehicle charging modules and energy efficiency laboratories.

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, described the college as a strategic national investment that will promote research, technological innovation, skills acquisition and employment while positioning Nigeria as a leading player in renewable energy development across Africa. He added that its establishment, alongside the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant, underscores the Commission's commitment to advancing renewable energy innovation and supporting Nigeria's long term sustainable economic growth.

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, commended the Tinubu administration for siting the project in Kogi State, describing it as a strategic investment in human capital development. He noted that the college would enhance the technical capacity of Kogi youths through modern renewable energy skills that promote job creation, technology transfer and industrial development, urging young people across the state to enrol and acquire practical skills to improve their livelihoods.

The event drew senior government officials including the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh; the Minister of Steel Development, Dr. Shuaibu Abubakar Audu; former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello; the Vice Chancellor of CUSTECH, Prof. Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu; lawmakers; traditional rulers; and development partners.