By Lucky Isibor,
The Edo state government has reiterated it’s desire to continue to put policies in place to create enabling environment for the industrialization of the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale stated this during the 2nd Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun – Higher Education Partnership for Sub-Saharan Africa (FUPRE-HEP SSA) knowledge sharing workshop on Sustainable Solutions for Multiscale Biogas Utility as an alternative energy resource held at Edo University Iyamho.
He noted that the state government’ focus on science, technology, vocational and technical education is to drive industrialization process in the state.
The commissioner who was represented by Mr. Obobaribajie Aigbona John said that the inadequate power supply and the challenges bedevilling the current sources of power generation have necessitated the search for an alternative source of power that will be less exposed to the challenges inherited in others.
According to him, Biogas as an alternative source of energy is a mixture of gases produced by the breakdown of organic matters in the absence of oxygen which can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant materials, sewage, green waste and food waste.
While congratulating the university for organising such a workshop, said his ministry will partner with FUPRE/EUI in the areas of curriculum development and research works, the Commissioner commended FUPRE, The Royal Academy of Engineering, United Kingdom and the spoke institutions for initiating the laudable projects which is crucial to the economic and Technological development in Nigeria.
Declaring the workshop open, the Vice Chancellor, Edo University Iyamho, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor congratulated FUPRE and all collaborating institutions for winning the HEP-SSA grant, adding that it was a huge achievement for them at Edo University Iyamho as one of the spoke institutions to be part of history making.
He said FUPRE as Hub university, is in collaboration with Edo University Iyamho, Brunel University, London, UK and other designated universities and corporate bodies to develop and sustain capacity towards a successful implementation of the project “Biogas for Sustainable Energy and Off-Grid Power”.
The Vice Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy VC, Prof. Steve Omodia said as one of the Hub institutions, “we are happy to organize the workshop, we expected that the HEP-SSA Hub and spoke institutions will meet to share knowledge on sustainable solutions for Multiscale Biogas utility as an alternative energy resource in Nigeria and also to evaluate all available terms, outcomes and options regarding the FUPRE/EUI-HEP-SSA project”.
“As a fee-paying institution of World class stardand, our vision is to become a centre of excellence in quality teaching, research and innovation activities as it has been unveiled”.
According to him, EUI is poised to be a major contractor in the advancement of knowledge and understanding for the benefit of the social, cultural and economic needs of the people of Edo state in particular and Nigeria in general.
He further stated that the EUI has departed from the knowledge-based curriculum to competency based curriculum with the inclusion of entrepreneurial studies in all programs. Hence, the university is glad that through the FUPRE/EUI -HEP-SSA grant, a 2000 L unit capacity biodigester has been designed and fabricated as a pilot plant for practical demonstration in fulfilment of the town-and-gown event to showcase Biogas technology within the host community.
While wishing them fruitful deliberations, he said it is important that Nigeria needs more of this collaborative researchers that will spur us to actions and produce better alternatives for technological development of the country.
Other speakers at the workshop include the coordinators of FUPRE -HEP-SSA project, Engr. Dr. Omonigho B. Otanocha who gave a brief background of the project alongside with EUI of HEP-SSA coordinator and chairman of the organizing committee, Engr. Dr. Vincent A. Balogun.
Others are Engr. Dr. Chukwunonye Ezeah, from Alex Ekwueme federal university, Ebonyi state, spoke on “Operational Consideration for Generating Biogas from Engineered Landfills in Nigeria”; Mrs. Nina C. Ani, CEO, Avanam links Intl. Ltd. Lagos, taught about “Developing Biogas Projects in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges while Dr. Simon E. Imoisi of EUI spoke on the “Legal Framework for the Regulation of Biogas Generation in Nigeria”; Engr. Dr. Kasian M. Usman from ABU, Zaria; Mr. F. I. Amoo, CEO, FOONO Renewable Energy Services, Iwo, Osun State and Chief Israel O. Ogidigben, JP, AICMC Warri all spoke on different topics.
Highpoint of the workshop was a visit to the practical field work of Biogas plant by Edo University Iyamho at the village head of Iyamho, Chief Etamesor
