…As ECN Commissions Centre For Energy Efficiency, Conservation
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sen. Adeleke Mamora has restated the ministry’s commitment to supporting the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) to achieve its mandate for an adequate, reliable, affordable supply of clean energy in the economy to support Nigeria’s Agenda 2050.
Mamora made this known during the commissioning of permanent offices and laboratories complex for the National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (NCEEC), a research centre under ECN, located at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
“Energy efficiency and conservation, as well as deployment of renewable energy, are the pillars of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDGs), which has the goal of ensuring universal access to clean, reliable and affordable modern energy services by 2030,” he said.
The minister, therefore, commended the ECN for the foresight to seek approval for the establishment of the NCEEC for the nation in 2007 and for locating it at the prestigious university.
In his remarks, the director-general, ECN, Prof. Eli Bala said the choice of the university as the site was informed by the fact that Lagos had the highest energy consumption demand, with a high population, homes, transportation system, industries and commercial activities driven by electricity and fuels.
Listing the centre’s mandate, Bala said they include the development of guidelines for energy-efficient end-use products and advice on the implementation; development of energy-efficiency codes, standards and specifications for domestic, industrial and commercial facilities; gathering, analysing and managing energy supply and consumption data and information.
Others include serving as a centre for training high-level manpower in energy efficiency and conservation; developing and executing pilot/demonstration projects highlighting energy efficient concepts; disseminating information on energy efficiency awareness programmes (seminars, workshops, publications, etc.) and performing any other functions as may be directed by the Federal Government.
In the same vein, the former vice chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe commended the occasion, stating that one goal of the institution is moving up in its current universities’ ranking through research. He added that the opening of the centre enables the goal through further education and research.
Earlier in his welcome address, the NCEEC director, Dr. Ajibola Olawale said the centre which aims for sustainable efficient energy provides a facility where students of the institution can carry out various studies.
“It is a centre for energy efficiency and conservation and, when you talk about efficiency, we are [focusing] on how better you can get good output from an input. Ours is to ensure that, even though we are saying that we do not have enough energy supply, the one [we have has to be used] efficiently.
“That is the essence of this place. For students, we have various studies to be carried out here. Our students can come here and learn about energy auditing, energy management and energy optimisation. We have laboratories and various equipment they can use,” he added.
