Ms Inga Stefanowicz, has announced that technical support and certification equipment had been provided to set up computer-based test centres in four geographical zones in the country.

Stefanowicz made this known at the Council for the Regulation for Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) official launch of the National Clean Energy Skills Certification for young professionals in Nigeria held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the energy certification, which was within the framework of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) introduced in 2017, was founded by the European Union and the German government.

Also, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in collaboration with the Ministry of Power, was aimed at supporting young professionals to obtain requisite skills to increase their access to employment in the sector.

Stefanowicz, said that the geographical zones are; Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Enugu respectively, which had been equipped to conduct examinations against industry competency standard to safeguard training quality and importantly ensure linkage to market needs and national recognition.

She added that as world leaders meet in Glasgow for the COP26, it was to address the challenges caused by climate change and to reduce emissions, including a special focus on methane emissions, stopping deforestation, and switching to renewable energy sources.

“A new analysis shows that employment in the fossil fuel sector will drop 20 to 30 per cent, regardless of the transition to renewable energy.

“This will be due to the decreasing reserves, also in Nigeria, and the parallel decreasing global demand, and to the organic development of the country which provides better and cheaper solutions to increase energy access”, she said.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Environment, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, lauded the effort of council for the regulation of engineering which was COREN in collaboration with NESP, EU, GIZ and Ministry of Power.

Ikeazor, represented by the Deputy Director, Divisional Head , Adult Waste Management Programme , cleaner and production for the Ministry, said that the ministry as a regulatory authority on the waste generated as a result of the activities in the renewable energy.

“Have been trying to develop an E-waste management policy and regulation framework for the sector in Nigeria.

“Therefore, the ministry is hoping that COREN will ensure that adequate screening of the competency of the professionals and qualified individuals be certified according to the careers in the renewable sector in Nigeria.

“This will be achieve by maintaining a standard comparable to what is seen in the develop countries in clean energy certification. I hope the certification scheme will provide training equally to close linkage to market needs.

“The national recognition and periodic course audits was in line with market development.

“There is need for Nigerian government to embrace the concept and continually support COREN in ensuring the sustainability of the certification process for qualified professionals in the renewable energy sector”, he said.

Speaking also, Engr. Joseph Makoju, Chairman, Industry skills Advisory Committee, applauded the EU and German Government for the financial support to provide the technical assistance for the national clean energy certification skills.

According to him, the scheme was within the framework of the NESP, we also want to thank the ministry of Power and GIZ as the implementing partners of the NESP programme.

“The National Clean Energy Skills Certification Scheme is intended to support an industry recognised structure to enhance skills development in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector.

“The collapse of a 21 story structure yesterday in Lagos thus signify the importance of today’s occasion.

“COREN’s mandate is to create an enabling environment for Nigerian youths to thrive in the engineering industry to catch them young and they do this by advocating strict compliance by all relevant parties to best practises

“The renewable energy and energy efficiency sector is growing rapidly and COREN remains committed to supporting the certification scheme to evolve to a world-class standard”, he said.