By Praise Chinecherem
Scores of women and youths of Obosi in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State have begun training on renewable energy as alternative to fossil fuel and electricity.
The training organized by Hon. Obinna Chidoka Foundation and facilitated by the former lawmaker, Hon. Obinna Chidoka was in collaboration with Orange Business Solutions and Services Limited and Energy Commission of Nigeria.
A resource person, Dr Okafor Uzochukwu of Energy Commission of Nigeria, Energy Research Center, University of Nigeria, Nsukka lectured participants on renewable energy as alternative to fossil fuel and electricity.
He identified Hydroelectric power, wave energy, tidal energy, solar energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy and wind energy as viable alternatives to energy needs of Nigerians.
The university Don trained the participants on construction of solar dryers, solar water heater, solar energy stoves.
A practical session was also held at the Obosi Health Centre which is equipped with Solar Inverter Mini Grid installed by Hon. Chidoka.
According to Dr Uzochukwu, “The purpose of this program is skill acquisition to build up capacity for personal and industrial use. God blessed Nigeria with sun that can be converted into many use. Energy cost is on the rise.
“We have thermal dryer for agric produce, the refuse dumps are always full of spoilt tomatoes, pepper and other consumables, post harvest loss is always huge on the part of farmers.
“With solar energy dryers, commodities can be packaged rather than canned which involves a whole lot of preservatives which can be hazardous to health.
“We have also developed solar powered brooders that heat the poultries instead of using kerosene heater, the same thing is applicable to solar energy cooking stoves, many people have been exposed to carbon monoxide in the course of using charcoal stoves, but with solar energy stoves, clean power is guaranteed.”
Another resource person and a Director from Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mallam Bashir Sheu took the participants through Solar PV, power system and installation.
He said that energy crises is imminent in Nigeria except Nigerians embrace renewable energy noting that many advanced democracies have gone green.
The Director General (DG) of Hon Obinna Chidoka constituency office, Hon Amb. Ndu Ikoku said the empowerment training is a watershed.
He said that Hon Chidoka while in office carried out eight empowerment training for his constituents and beyond.
“The empowerment on renewable energy is such that will make the beneficiaries useful to themselves, the state and the nation in general,” Ikoku said.
A participant, Ekene Ogbu thanked the sponsor of the empowerment training, on behalf of himself and other participants thanked the former lawmaker, Hon Obinna Chidoka.
The highlights of the event was presentation of certificate of participation, tool kits and cash to the trainees.
