A stream serving as water source for farmers | File photo
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has launched a hydropower development project to boost Nigeria’s agro-industry.
Speaking at a workshop on Tuesday, Reuben Bamidele, UNIDO national programme officer, said the project seeks to expand Nigeria’s energy mix by integrating small hydropower systems to energise agricultural value chains.
The project, titled ‘Promoting small hydropower development and circular economy approaches in Nigeria’, is funded by the European Union (EU).
It comprises two components as sub-projects: ‘Small hydro power development for agro-industry use in Nigeria (SHP-DAIN)’, and ‘Advancing Nigeria’s green and just transition to net zero through circular economy practices.
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Bamidele said the workshop was organised to build the capacity of policy and decision makers, renewable energy project developers and relevant financial institutions to effectively develop and implement small hydropower projects in Nigeria.
He highlighted persistent challenges in Nigeria’s energy sector particularly in power generation, transmission, and distribution and restated the importance of community engagement and water resource management for effective implementation.
The two-day workshop was in collaboration with the federal ministries of power, water resources and sanitation; the Rural Electrification Agency (REA); and Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).
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Joseph Utsev, minister of water resources and sanitation, said the project aligns with the ministry’s vision of using Nigeria’s water bodies to improve access to affordable and reliable energy.
Utsev was represented by Ngozi Aboho, a director in the ministry.
“As a nation blessed with abundant water resources and arable land, we are uniquely positioned to leverage renewable energy to power agro-industry growth, enhance livelihood, food security, create jobs and reduce our carbon footprint,” the minister said.
Godfrey Ogbemudia, the EU delegation’s programme manager for energy, green, and circular economy in Nigeria and ECOWAS, commented on the importance of scalability, knowledge transfer, and seed funding to ensure sustainability of the project.
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