The senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Dr Yunus Akintunde has identified several challenges Nigeria is facing in general as far as national energy demand and most especially rural electrification, while also providing useful insights on possible solutions.
Senator Akintunde expressed his views as the Guest Lecturer, he was delivering the second edition of University of Uyo Vice Chancellor’s Public Lecture titled “Addressing Energy Poverty in Nigeria, Insight and Implications for Rural Areas” held yesterday at Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
He expressed optimism on the possibility of achieving efficient and reliable energy provisions required for Nigerian rural communities, however with the caveat on the readiness and commitment of the various stakeholders towards providing lasting solutions to the several factors he identified as presently affecting the power sector on national energy provisions generally and most especially the Nigerian rural communities if Nigeria is truly desirous of steady national economic growth and development, which was the focus of the lecture.
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Among the several factors he hinged upon include, the political will and commitment of the various stakeholders on policy design and Implementation of workable action plans on energy requirements and provisions, efficient management of technical issues of power generation, transmission and distribution, creating enabling environment for the provision of huge financial capital investment requirements of the sector which should attract local and foreign investments.
Other factors he mentioned include the need towards ensuring the processes of legal frameworks that can sustain and fast track development agenda on energy provision are clearly defined and established with legislative backings, assuring the reality of political will to deal with the issue of generic corruption that is a national problem pervading every sector of the economy, then the urgent need to decentralize the Rural electrification agencies and other relevant operational agencies within the power sector.
Dr. Yunus Akintunde, a foremost energy expert and Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment is the first Nigerian to earn a Doctorate degree in Energy and Environmental studies at the prestigious Nigerian premier University of Ibadan having earlier earned his first and post graduate masters degrees in Physics at Lagos State University, Ojo Lagos Nigeria.
Senator Akintunde had earlier in the year delivered the Distinguished Alumni Lecture at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH Ogbomoso, Oyo State and was also awarded the Distinguished Personality Award on Environment at the Federal University of Technology Ado Ekiti, FUTA, Ekiti State.
On his arrival at Uyo the State capital the earlier day, Senator Akintunde an ally of Senator Godswill Akpabio the Senate President and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State had been warmly received by the Management of the University of Uyo led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo savouring the joyous moments where several Oyo State indigenes resident in Akwa Ibom also trooped out to welcome him.
In attendance at the public lecture were several members of the academia, students and stakeholders within the energy and power sector.
Kunle Olatunji
Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Senator Yunus Akintunde.
