50% Deficit in Skilled Renewable Energy Workers Hindering Sector Growth – Rep Ogene

HBy Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives committee on Renewable Energy has disclosed that Nigeria has 50 per cent unmet needs in the Renewable Energy skilled labour sector.

Chairman, House committee on Renewable Energy, Rep. Afam Ogene, stated this at the Africa Policy Dialogue (APD) workshop with theme: “Green jobs and low carbon transition,” on Thursday in Abuja.

According to Rep. Ogene the unmet needs had impeded employment of quality technicians and employees in the sector.

He said: “Today, nearly 50 per cent of skilled labour needs in Nigeria’s renewable sector remain unmet.

“Employers across the country consistently report difficulty hiring qualified technicians, engineers, and system operators”.

He noted a significant shortfall in the local production of renewable energy equipment, stressing that much of the machinery used in the sector is still sourced from abroad.

This reliance on imports, he warned, limits opportunities for creating environmentally friendly jobs within the country.

Ogene clarified that the problem does not stem from a lack of raw materials for local production. Instead, it is largely due to insufficient technical expertise and weak policy frameworks that fail to encourage effective knowledge transfer.

He emphasised that the challenge goes beyond workforce limitations, pointing to structural policy gaps as a major contributing factor.

Citing China as an example, the Committee Chairman highlighted how government-backed initiatives and funding have helped the Asian nation generate over seven million green jobs.

He therefore urged Nigerian universities and research institutions to adapt their curricula to meet the evolving requirements of the energy transition.

Reaffirming the legislature’s commitment to advancing renewable energy, Ogene stressed the importance of enacting robust green jobs legislation, particularly targeting women and young people.

He added that crafting such laws would require careful planning to ensure they align with existing regulations and deliver real, measurable outcomes.

He expressed confidence in the capacity of his team which includes seasoned colleagues, expert legal consultants, and skilled legislative drafters—Ogene expressed optimism that they would produce a well-structured, impactful law that Nigerians could take pride in.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas said the dialogue was in line with the agenda of the 10th Assembly which aligned directly with the broader oversight and legislative responsibility.

Abbas who was represented by the Deputy Minority Whip, Rep. George Ozodinobi, affirmed the commitment of the 10th Assembly to investigate policy gaps and propose solutions that were meaningful, realistic and impactful in addressing the challenge.

He said: “Let me sincerely thank the Honourable Chairman and Members of the Committee on Renewable Energy for their diligence, foresight, and relentless effort in championing this important cause.

“As a responsible People’s House, we are fully aware of the strategic importance of green energy, not just because of its environmental significance but also due to its immense economic potential.”

Speaker Abbas also said that the loud and urgent call for a just energy transition in Nigeria was a reflection of a dual reality.

According to him, our vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and our untapped renewable energy potential.

The Speaker reiterated the determination of the parliament to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in creating jobs to improving energy access, from preserving our ecosystems to reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

He further expressed the imperatives of the legislative agenda as placed on a strong emphasis on energy transition as a key pillar in tackling unemployment and environmental degradation.

He said that Nigeria was at a critical juncture where bold and deliberate policy choices could determine expected leap ahead into a sustainable future or remain stalled by outdated systems.

Abbas also called for urgent action to tap into the renewable energy as a way forward in tackling youth unemployment and under-employment.

Also speaking, representative of INCLUDE Knowledge platform, Ms Victoria Manya expressed the group’s belief in not just transition but increasing renewable energy skills in Africa.

Manya warned that the low-carbon transition risked becoming the handmaiden of fossil fuel interests—delivering decarbonization targets on paper.

“What we must do is reclaim the transition—not only as a climate imperative—but as a generational opportunity to rewrite our social contract.

“In Nigeria, the data is clear: too many young people are unemployed or underemployed, and too many women are shut out of emerging green sectors.”

She explained that “a just transition must not only ask how we reduce emissions—but who gets the new jobs, who trains the workforce, and who shapes the policies.”

Manya said that Nigeria stood at the same global threshold with bigger renewable energy nations, with a unique opportunity to lead Africa in embedding labour justice into climate action.