From Toluwa Agboluaje, Ibadan
An environmentalist and climate change expert, Smart Chukwuma Amaefula, has called for the adoption of renewable energy by small- scale business in Nigeria to address power poverty.
Amaefula who is president and Chief Executive Officer of Climate Transformation and Energy Remediation Society spoke at an exhibition town hall on: “The Viability and Affordability of Clean Energy Solution To Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ibadan.
Climate Transformation and Energy Remediation Society is a non-governmental and non-profit organization that focuses on environmental sustainability.
According to him, “If renewable energy is succeeding in other small African countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, why would it not also succeed in the country that claims to be the giant of Africa.?
“ Competition will drive Nigeria and other smaller African countries to invest in renewables. It would be a shame if the giant of Africa continues to suffer in energy poverty for her socio-economic activities while those other smaller African countries will rather become the mouse that roared.”
He said that adopting renewable energy solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria will be a win-win solution and the Nigerian environ-economic sustainability.
“According to SMEDAN, female entrepreneurs accounted for 43.32 per cent in the ownership structure of micro-entreprises as against 22.75 per cent in small and medium enterprises. Therefore, putting women at the front burner of innovative technologies such as solar energy, both consumption and trading will increase their independence and restore confidence for survival”.
