By David Agba
Abuja
Th e major problem of Africa is gross under utilization of its human and natural resources and the best way to address these problems is to utilise the human resources in the development of the energy sector. Immediate past president of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), Engr Mustafa Balarabe Shehu stated this when he presented the 26th October lecture titled ‘Energy Situation in Africa-Opportunities and Challenges’ to the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in Abuja. According to him, Africa is endowed with almost all energy potentials, fossil fuels, solar, hydro, wind, biomass etc and therefore must develop those potentials to meet its energy defi cit. “Development of the energy sector has direct bearing on 12 out of 17 sustainable Development Goals.
Th erefore, meeting up with the SDGs will continue to an illusion to the continent if the energy defi cit is not addressed. “For the world to succeed in attaining the SDGs, problems of energy defi cit in Africa has to be solved,” he said. Earlier in his welcome address, President of the NSE, Engr Otis Anyaeji, enumerated the cardinal objectives of the lecture to be; to examine the problems confronting the Nigerian professionals in their bid to contribute to nation building.
To unveil practical solutions to the factors militating against Nigeria’s development as a nationa with focus on crucial areas of the economy, highlight the available opportunities of investment for players in any sector under discourse.
He explained that the conference presented an opportunity to compare notes with other African countries essentially to “enable us provide our national governments the strategies to ensuring adequate power for robust economic activities.”
