By Uthman Salami
The Lagos State Government has revealed its readiness to develop and improve youths capacity building in renewables energy.
The Lagos State commisioner for wealth creation and employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobike made this declaration during the kick off of the global certification on solar technology training for unemployed youths in Lagos.
According to her, renewable energy has continued to bring socio-economic benefits by creating numerous jobs and business opportunities worldwide, adding the government was ready to build capacities of youths to take advantage of such opportunities, including manufacturing, construction and installation, operation and maintenance, as the economy continues to battle growing electricity deficit.
Arobike, further revealed that the state was partnering with a United States-based International Information Technology and Application Solar (IITA-Solar) in order to explore opportunities in the $50 billion global solar market in order to provide millions of new jobs and business opportunities for teeming youth in the State.
She expressed that the State Government is commitment to support youth entrepreneurship to enable them leverage on local capabilities to harness its renewable potential for industrial development.
She said the world has seen encouraging growth in renewables bring about much larger employment by adopting a comprehensive policy framework that drives the energy transition.
She further added, that the collaboration with the company is targeted at providing requisite training for a global certification in solar technology.
She said NABCEP would equip the participants with the skill sets to install and maintain generation systems such as solar farm with voltage up to 16,000 volts associated with transformers.
She insisted that 280 youths would benefit from the training, which would cover everything from how solar energy to installing solar panels. It involves both in-class and hands-on learning.
According to her, the graduates would emerge as competent and accredited solar PV design and installation professionals.
She empathized that, through the partnership, participants would have the confidence and connections to be successful in the growing renewable energy sector.