Nigeria must lead Africa’s renewable energy drive, says Chinedu Ogwus – businessday.ng
Chinedu Ogwus, Eur Ing (Amb.) has urged Nigeria to take the lead in Africa’s renewable energy transition, calling for bold policies and targeted investments that would position the country as the continent’s hub for clean energy production.
Speaking at the 2025 Niger Delta Oil & Gas Investment & Security Summit in Calabar, Ogwus, Regional Director, Africa, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Society of Petroleum Engineers International, unveiled a blueprint that combines renewable energy incentives, a gas-to-renewables strategy, and solid minerals development to secure Nigeria’s energy future and drive sustainable industrial growth.
Delivering a keynote address titled “The Global Energy Transition and Nigeria’s Energy Security,” Ogwus called for large-scale investment in solar panel and battery manufacturing, backed by government incentives to nurture local industries and ensure sustainable industrialization.
He proposed a five-year tax holiday for renewable energy investors, modeled after the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project incentive that helped transform the gas sector.
According to him, a similar framework would attract private capital, spur industrial expansion, and cement Nigeria’s place at the forefront of Africa’s energy transition.
He also underscored the role of Nigeria’s vast gas reserves as critical transitional fuels, recommending that revenues from gas exports be reinvested in renewable projects.
Beyond hydrocarbons, he urged the federal government to prioritize the development of solid minerals as a new revenue stream capable of financing the country’s 2060 net-zero target.
On the often-contentious issue of oil-producing communities, Ogwus pressed for transparent dialogue and binding Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between oil companies and host communities.
He insisted that peace and collaboration, not force remain the foundation for sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
He also highlighted the role of robotics and autonomous systems in improving oil and gas operations, noting their potential to boost efficiency, enhance safety, and strengthen governance.
“Africa’s energy future depends not only on production but also on governance, technological innovation, and sustainable investment,” he said.
Ogwus also connected energy reform with human development, highlighting the work of his Ogwus Youth Empowerment and Community Development initiative, which provides vocational training, enterprise support, and empowerment programmes for women and vulnerable groups.
He described these interventions as vital for tackling the root causes of unrest in oil-producing regions.
In recognition of his contributions, he was presented with the Niger Delta Oil & Gas Excellence Award for his transformative youth empowerment projects, which have been credited with boosting productivity in the oil and gas sector since January 2025.
Participants at the summit praised Ogwus for bridging industrial innovation with community-focused development, describing him as part of a new generation of African leaders who blend vision, impact, and service.
The summit, hosted by Cross River State Governor Prince Bassey Otu and Deputy Governor, Peter Agbe Odey, brought together top policymakers, investors, and industry leaders. Among the dignitaries were Sunday Benson Agadaga (MON); Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil & Gas Host Communities; Eteng Jonah Williams, Chairman, Senate Committee on Crude Oil Theft; Obongemgem Ekparikpe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream); as I’mell as Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of State for Petroleum, and the Minister of Environment.
