Nigeria’s Barefoot Renewable Energy College (BARECKS) stands out for several distinctive reasons. Firstly, it is Africa’s first government-established Barefoot Renewable Energy College. Unlike the regional Barefoot College International training centres in Tanzania (Zanzibar), Madagascar, and Senegal, BARECKS was conceived, funded, and constructed by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).
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The commissioning also reinforces Osara’s emergence as one of Nigeria’s foremost clean-energy innovation hubs. Located within the same ecosystem is the Green Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Pilot Plant, another flagship project of the Energy Commission of Nigeria designed to advance research and capacity development in green hydrogen and emerging energy technologies, further positioning CUSTECH as a centre for renewable energy excellence in Africa.
According to the statement, the commissioning ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State, and will be hosted by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi.
Dr. Abdullahi made the call on Thursday while speaking at a high-level panel discussion during the NOG Energy Week at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja. He described hydrogen as a transformative energy solution that is already reshaping economies worldwide and stressed that Nigeria has the resources and strategic advantage to become a key player in the global hydrogen value chain.
The Media Office of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Abdullahi…
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha said the partnership represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest to achieve sustainable energy independence. He disclosed that discussions focused on establishing a 500–1000 megawatt (MW) solar panel manufacturing plant in Nigeria, an initiative that will not only support the Federal Government’s clean energy transition agenda but also create jobs and stimulate industrial growth.
The intervention comes at a critical time, as AKTH recently suffered prolonged power outages that resulted in the tragic loss of lives in its Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Abdullahi noted that the incident further strengthened the Commission’s resolve to provide sustainable energy solutions to vital institutions.
By August 8, 2025, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, Dr. Abdullahi was no longer a new face; he was Nigeria’s leading voice for sustainable financing in clean energy. He followed this up with appearances at the G20 Energy Transition Summit in Brazil and the World Refrigeration Day in Paris (2025), showcasing Nigeria as a nation no longer content with the sidelines but now pushing conversations at the global stage.