Author name: Ainhoa Belenguer

Desayuno
Study Visit

Breakfast dialogue on green skills in the solar sector hosted at the Residency of the Spanish Ambassador in Nigeria

On Friday, April 19th, a delegation from the expert team of the SHINE project, who were on a study visit in Nigeria, had the honor of hosting a breakfast at the Residence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Spain in Nigeria, together with the team from the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria. The purpose of the event was to discuss the future of green skills and the solar energy sector in Nigeria, in relation to the SHINE project. SHINE, a project funded by the European Commission, aims to provide training for teachers and develop a curriculum for vocational training centers for solar energy technicians in Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda. The event was welcomed by Santiago Ormeño, Head of Spanish Cooperation in Nigeria and facilitated by Sergio Lagarde (Mundus, project coordinator), Victoria Manya (INCLUDE, partner) and Norbert Edomah (Pan-Atlantic University, partner). The discussion brought together experts from the education and solar energy sectors who are already working in Nigeria, fostering very interesting debates about what is already happening in the country and where further efforts are needed. Participants included experts from NAPTIN, GIZ, the European Union Delegation, the Spanish Embassy team, the French cooperation (Agence française de développement, AFD),representation from the Ministry of Education and the project experts. The main conclusions highlighted the ideal timing for a project of this nature, given that Nigeria is in the midst of an energy transition, with a strong focus on solar energy. Additionally, the challenge posed by the informal sector and how training organizations and institutions need to address this sector by providing strong, validated, certified trainings that can quickly add value and employment opportunities for these technicians. Finally, solar energy was identified as one of the main solutions to the lack of access to energy in some communities, as well as a solution to the issues faced by the national electrification system and its consequent dependency on generators and oil.  There is much to do, many opportunities available, and above all, a great willingness to work and collaborate. The main conclusion from all stakeholders is to emphasize that there are already many initiatives on-going regarding training, capacity building and curriculum development in the solar sector in Nigeria. Therefore, it is crucial for all involved parties to work together collaboratively and not in isolation. This will allow for uniform, connected solutions, avoiding wastage of resources and efforts, but rather maximizing actions. Moreover, the informal sector is strong, widespread, resilient and dynamic, playing a significant role in the country’s economy, as in the rest of Africa. Therefore it is crucial to develop strategies that add value, consistency and reliability to this sector and incorporate it since the very beginning in all the strategies. The circumstances of the sector demand for short, concise, job-oriented training and certifications. These programs should provide job security, equip technicians with valid tools, and address the immediacy of the market. Finally, a good exchange of information and contact points and a clear will to create a network for collaboration. The SHINE team will work on the first project outputs: National roadmaps for Greening TVET in the solar sector and Country factsheets and skills analysis and will share them with the group as a starting point.  The time is now, and the needs and circumstances are clear. The SHINE team is ready to collaborate on the energy transition in Nigeria.

Study visit 7
Study Visit

The SHINE consortium travels to Nigeria for a study visit as part of the project research phase

A group of experts from the SHINE partnership travel to Nigeria for one week, with the purpose of understanding the context in Nigeria in the solar industry, meeting policy makers and key industry players as well as having insightful session with VET managers, trainers and students to draw the general panorama and work on a a national roadmap for greening TVET in the solar industry. On April 15th, representatives from the SHINE partnership touched down in Abuja for a week-long journey delving into the Nigerian context. Through engaging debates, intensive working sessions, interviews, and company visits, they aimed to grasp the state-of-art and the current trends of the solar energy sector in Nigeria: understanding the training needs of companies, regional and national strategies in the sector, existing educational offerings, and their shortcomings. The week concluded with proposals, recommendations, and a roadmap for advancing vocational training in the field of solar energy. The expert group, comprising representatives from education, business, research, and government from Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, the Netherlands, and Spain, organized a comprehensive agenda. They interviewed policymakers from national government bodies and were welcomed by the Chairmen of the House Committee of Renewable energies and climate change. They interacted with key industry players, and other small and medium-sized companies in the field. They also visited vocational training centers, analyzed curricula, teaching methodologies, and interviewed teachers and students to understand their aspirations and motivations. The week culminated in the collection of conclusions and the drafting of a roadmap, soon to be ready for key stakeholders. This roadmap will shape the teacher training program and curriculum to be developed and piloted as the main outcomes of this project. Key conclusions reached by the team were: The informal sector is strong, widespread, resilient and dynamic, playing a significant role in the country’s economy, as in the rest of Africa. It is crucial to develop strategies that add value, consistency and reliability. There’s a pressing need for short, concise, job-oriented training and certifications. These programs should provide job security, equip technicians with valid tools, and address the immediacy of the market. Solar energy emerges as a clear, reliable, and stable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based energy access. It presents a viable and effective solution to the electricity access challenges faced by Nigerian communities. Additionally, it offers a value proposition to address the technical problems of the country’s central electrification system, which fails to meet the population’s needs and relies heavily on generators and fossil fuels. The enabling environment is ripe. There is momentum, both nationally and internationally, to invest in solar energy and train technicians for its design, installation, and maintenance. Policies are in place, financing is available, government agencies are specifically working on mini-grid installations, and all stakeholders have a clear vision for supporting this sector. There are numerous initiatives in this field working to create a curriculum that adapts to market and population needs. Collaboration among these stakeholders is essential. Unity is strength, and it’s evident from this visit that SHINE should direct its efforts and experiences towards collaborating with existing initiatives on the ground. These initial findings lay the groundwork for the upcoming stages of the SHINE project, which involve collaborating on the creation of national greening TVET roadmaps in Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda, developing tailor-made capacity building programs for trainers and VET staff vas well as tailoring curriculum development to the needs of the solar industry. The SHINE team is looking forward to working together to promote green TVET for the solar industry in Africa!

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