The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Administration, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Adenike Boyo, on Tuesday urged the Nigerian government to adopt the latest renewable energy technologies to mitigate climate change.
Boyo made the appeal at the 3rd LASU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Application 2025, held at the university’s main campus in Ojo, Lagos.
She said Nigeria stood to benefit immensely from adopting cutting-edge renewable energy technologies.
“Nigeria, striving to meet growing energy demands and mitigate climate change, must actively adopt the latest advancements in renewable energy technologies.
These trends offer real solutions for improving electricity access, reliability, environmental health, and economic resilience.
To lead this transformation, Nigeria must invest in research and development, update regulations, attract investment, and build human and physical capacity.
Strategic integration of these innovations can transform Nigeria into a clean energy leader in Africa,” Boyo said.
Speaking on the theme, she explained that the lecture would explore emerging trends in the global renewable energy landscape and their applicability in Nigeria, such as Advanced Solar Photovoltaics.
“Others are Floating Solar Farms, Wind Energy (offshore wind, vertical axis turbines), and Sustainable Biofuels (algae-based, waste-to-energy),” she added.
The DVC noted that these emerging technologies offered solutions for advanced energy storage, which could address solar and wind intermittency.
She explained that while innovative solar designs reduced land requirements, sustainable biofuels from waste could tackle both energy and waste management challenges.
“By adopting these innovations, Nigeria can enhance grid stability, expand energy access to underserved areas, and promote sustainability in a cost-effective manner,” she said.
Boyo, however, pointed out that Nigeria faced challenges in adopting these emerging trends, such as technological immaturity and adaptation.
She explained that many technologies were still maturing and required local adaptation.
“There is need for specialised infrastructure and expertise: Nigeria lacks the grid, ports, and logistics for large-scale offshore and storage deployment.
There is also a need for the evolution of existing frameworks and laws to support new energy models,” she said.
The DVC recommended that Nigeria should partner with global firms, offer tax incentives and support, prioritise research and development, and adapt global technologies to local needs.
“Create flexible policies that support the integration of new technologies,” she advised.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, said the conference was significant for both the people and government of Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor, represented by Prof. Boyo, said:
“Renewable energy, also called green energy, is energy from renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human scale.
The most widely used renewable energies are solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal power.
They are natural, self-replenishing, and usually have zero or minimal carbon footprints.”
She added that as part of global efforts to limit climate change, most countries had committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in practice.
“This means phasing out fossil fuels and raising the global adoption of renewable energy resources.
This much-needed process, coined as low-carbon substitution, unlike other transitional processes such as energy emissions, needs to be accelerated multiple times to successfully mitigate climate change.
Despite Nigeria’s rich energy resources, many cities still lack access to affordable energy.
This has contributed to the country’s poor economic and social development,” she said.
Olatunji-Bello explained that the purpose of the conference was to bring together researchers, engineers, manufacturers, practitioners, and global partners.
“This is to discuss advanced and developing renewable energy research and applications.
We must support the development of our nation and embrace transformation,” she said.
Also speaking, the LASU SDG Director, Prof. Tayo Ajayi, stressed that renewable energy was vital to society because it reduced greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change.
Ajayi, represented by the Deputy Director of SDG, Dr. Teslim Ojutomi, said:
“This improves public health by lowering air pollution, enhances energy security by reducing reliance on imported oil, stimulates local economies through job creation in new industries, and provides a sustainable and inexhaustible power source, unlike fossil fuels.
It also contributes to long-term energy stability and ensures future generations benefit from sustainable energy sources.
“The topics within the scope of this conference include, but are not limited to, renewable energy, new trends and technologies for renewable energy research and applications in industries, as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for renewable energy studies,” he added.
