The Chairman of Stomberg Power Limited, Otunba Babatunde Morakinyo has said that renewable energy is critical to tackling the poverty currently ravaging the northern region of Nigeria. Stomberg Power Limited is a leading provider of renewable energy across West-Africa.
Morakinyo stated that the Northern region of Nigeria is currently in need of development, adding that the high rate of poverty in the region was occasioned by decade-long insecurity, which has said is negatively affected the economy of the region.
According to the Stomberg Power boss, solar energy could be harnessed to drive a critical rehabilitation and growth process of in the region. Stressing that the poverty in the North could be eradicated through harnessing the huge potentials of solar energy in the region, Morakinyo advised that while security agencies battle insurgency in the region that commensurate effort should be channelled to the economic development in a bid to engage citizens productively.
Continuing, he noted that a recent report by the World Bank titled ‘Advancing social protection in a dynamic Nigeria’ had estimated that 87% of poor Nigerians live in the Northern part of the country. “Poverty in the northern regions of the country has been increasing especially in the north-west zone. Almost half of all poor lived in the north-west and the north accounts for 87 per cent of all poor in the country in 2016”.
According to Morakinyo, World Bank’s data reveals that Nigeria has a long way to go in achieving sustainable development.
He said, “As a professional in the renewable energy sector, the North is well-positioned to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development through investment in renewable energy. Stomberg power limited has executed several landmark projects which have improved the quality of lives of the beneficiary.
“Currently, we are building a 100 per cent off-grid power infrastructure for the soon to be completed Zamfara Airport which is the first in the country and it’s estimated to create 250 jobs for unemployed youth in the state.
“This, among our other initiatives across various North-Eastern states will facilitate the rehabilitating of displaced people affected by Boko Haram conflict, Morakinya said.
Peace Obi
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