President Bola Tinubu has commissioned Africa’s first Renewable Energy College, the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, Osara (BARECKS), and the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant in Kogi State, describing the institution as a world-class facility that will drive Nigeria’s clean energy transition, create jobs and strengthen the country’s renewable energy capacity.
The projects were inaugurated on Tuesday at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President.
In his address, President Tinubu said the completion of the college marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest to harness its abundant renewable energy resources for economic development.
He described the institution as “a world-class edifice completed to international standards,” adding that it reflects the country’s growing commitment to innovation, research and sustainable development.
The President noted that despite Nigeria’s vast renewable energy resources, the country has struggled to convert those advantages into meaningful economic gains.
“Nigeria is abundantly endowed with sunlight, wind, biomass and water,” Tinubu said.
He added, “The difficulty confronting us has been converting our endowment into megawatts, and megawatts into jobs.”
According to him, the establishment of the Barefoot Renewable Energy College is designed to bridge that gap by producing the skilled workforce needed to drive the country’s renewable energy sector.
“This institution represents our determination to turn our natural advantages into economic opportunities for Nigerians,” the President said.
Tinubu said investments in renewable energy remain central to his administration’s development agenda, noting that expanding access to clean energy would stimulate industrial growth, support rural electrification and improve livelihoods.
Vice President Shettima, who performed the inauguration on the President’s behalf, conveyed Tinubu’s satisfaction over the successful completion of the landmark project.
He said the President views investments in education, innovation and renewable energy as critical to Nigeria’s long-term economic transformation.
“I bring you the warm greetings of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is delighted by the completion of this remarkable project,” Shettima said.
He recalled the President’s long-held belief that the success of any government should be measured by the opportunities it creates for its people.
“The President has always maintained that a government is measured by the industries it plants and by the households those industries feed,” the Vice President said.
According to Shettima, the renewable energy college is not just another educational institution but a strategic investment that will equip young Nigerians with practical skills, promote research and innovation, and position the country as a leader in Africa’s clean energy revolution.
“This project is about creating opportunities, building capacity and preparing Nigerians for the energy future,” he said.
He noted that the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant would also advance Nigeria’s research capabilities in emerging energy technologies and support the country’s efforts to diversify its energy mix.
The Barefoot Renewable Energy College is expected to train technicians, researchers and entrepreneurs in renewable energy technologies, while the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant will serve as a hub for research, innovation and demonstration of green hydrogen solutions.
The projects are part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to accelerate the transition to clean energy, strengthen energy security, create employment opportunities and position Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s renewable energy industry.