Oct. 23, 2021

In furtherance of the commitment to facilitate cooperation, advance knowledge and promote the adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy, the Lagos State Government has trained energy stakeholders on business opportunities in the solar industry.

Addressing participants at a one-day seminar held at Ikeja, the General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB), Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, explained that the seminar is part of the strategy of the State government to scale up interest in renewable energy and support policies and investment in the sector.

Speaking on the theme of the seminar: “Thriving in Solar Business”, the General Manager revealed that the programme is geared towards providing in-depth knowledge on complex and competing agendas in solar business with a special focus on its constituents and variations across time scales.

According to him, “The rapid rise of the solar industry in Lagos offers insights into the realities of the State’s energy roadmap in examining the role of government support for the solar market and how effective they can be in providing optimal solutions to climate change. The Agency is making strides to ensure that solar becomes a viable replacement for non-renewable energy sources”.

He revealed that the present administration has shown firm commitment towards accelerated use of modern renewable energy and is leading energy transition efforts in the country.

“As a government, we are playing an enabling role by promoting and implementing policy interventions to enable this acceleration and further strengthen energy security, scale-up infrastructure investment and promote the growth of the green economy”, he said.

Tijani explained that solar energy expansion still depends largely on policymakers setting ambitious targets and implementing sound policies, market designs and regulatory frameworks, including technological research, development and deployment.

“The solar industry is significant in shaping the future of energy generation and the technology is versatile and an inexhaustible fuel source that is pollution and often noise-free. The government is committed to galvanising interest and investing in its efficiency”, he declared.

Speaking further, the Agency Boss maintained that the seminar is one of the major initiatives that underscore the capacities of the Lagos Energy Academy as it is evolving and developing a well robust academic offering for citizens, businesses and government agencies.

“In a bid to improve the quality of work provided by artisans and technicians in the power and energy industry while also achieving the economic and social goals of the Lagos State government, we have designed ideas and repositioned the Lagos Energy Academy to a world-class standard as well as improved the quality of human capital that graduate from the academy, while ensuring the impact is positively felt not only within the economy of Lagos but also that of Nigeria and Africa as a whole”, he emphasised.

While assuring participants of an intellectually rewarding engagement, Engr. Tijani stated that the seminar will offer participants relevant knowledge on new business models to support the viability of the solar energy market.