President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria has become Africa’s leading country in renewable energy skills development with the inauguration of the continent’s first Barefoot Renewable Energy College in Kogi State.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, Tinubu said the institution would help bridge the shortage of skilled professionals needed to drive the country’s renewable energy sector. He noted that the college would train technicians, installers, operators and maintenance personnel with practical expertise in clean energy technologies.

The President said graduates would receive internationally recognised certifications, enabling them to secure employment or establish businesses both within Nigeria and abroad. He added that the project was inspired by India’s successful vocational training model and would help convert Nigeria’s abundant renewable energy resources into jobs and economic growth.

Tinubu described the college as evidence of the government’s commitment to delivering strategic infrastructure and called on development partners, research institutions and private investors to collaborate in advancing renewable energy development across Africa.

Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo said the project would strengthen Nigeria’s energy sector, attract investment and create opportunities for communities. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, described the college as a major investment in human capital, while the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, said the institution is equipped with modern laboratories and training facilities to support renewable energy research and skills development.