…Winners to represent Nigeria in Vienna global competition
By Henry Uche
As the world moves towards use of clean energy technologies, the federal government said it is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that Nigeria is not left in the dark, but must strive to empowers cleantech innovators to fast track the country’s socio economic development.
This is even as three Nigerian Startups were awarded the sum of $32,500, for their innovative solutions in tackling climate-related challenges at the second cohort of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) in Lagos.
Mrs. Folami Sidikat, is the winner of female -led Start-up with $5000 attached; Mr. Enohi Ukpebor, Founder of E- Sam Energy, was awarded double for the best Climate Change Mitigation Start-up, and 2nd runner up with $10,000; the first runner up, Mr. Victor Komolafe, received $7,500; while the National Winner, Mr. Henry Lambo, earned $10,000 for Water Purification project, where water is being purified within 60 seconds. The winners will represent Nigeria in Vienna, to compete with 15 other global innovators in June this year.
At the United Nations Industrial Development Organization/Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (UNIDO-GCIP) National Forum and Award Ceremony in held in Lagos recently, the Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation, Mr. Uche Nnaji, who made this known while delivering a keynote address, affirmed that the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology (FMIST) is currently conducting Technology Needs Assessment for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in key sectors of the economy.
Funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF), with the Department of Environmental Sciences & Technology at the FMIST, which conceptualized and provided the platform for the Nigerian CleanTech Innovation Programme (NC-TIP) and partnership, the program which is the 2nd cohort, aims to promote clean energy technologies for sustainable start-ups and small medium enterprise development in Nigeria.
Piloted and implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with the Co-Creation Hub (which provided the technical services within the project), FMSTI, and the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria (REA), Nnaji said “I wish to see a time where Nigeria will take over the global stage. I call on all Nigerians to embrace and support deployment of clean energy innovations and solutions across the various sectors of Nigerian economy”
Corroborating, the Managing Director/CEO of REA, Mr. Abba Aliyu, represented by Dr Ngozi Ejiogu, Director at Rural Electrification Fund, maintained that the Agency would continue to support and collaborate with innovative SMEs, whose dedication to advancing clean energy solutions is shaping a brighter and more sustainable future for all.
“We reaffirm our commitment to fostering an environment where innovation thrives, entrepreneurs are empowered to make a positive impact, and where sustainable solutions drive inclusive growth.
“Very shortly, REA would kick start its own component of the program, design to operationalize GCIP funding mechanism. The target beneficiaries will be enterprises who have gone through acceleration cycles like this with innovative solutions requiring financial assistance to upscale”
Aliyu assured that a transparent and competitive tender process would be developed by the Project Implementation Unit to help pre-qualify and select the best of innovators who will receive the GCIP grants.
The MD added that three stages are involved: Expression of Interest, Request for grants and a pitchathon, saying, “A portal has been developed to ensure seamless application process. A launch date would be communicated in due course. Let’s use this opportunity to establish our firm footprint in the greener future” he urged.
Similarly, Startup Support Leader at Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), Mr. Akinwande Akinsulire, reiterated that its vision was to create a community where innovators, engineers and tech enthusiasts can collaborate to address societal problems.
“Since the project’s inception, we’ve worked closely with UNIDO and other Project Executing Entities to support 49 innovators: 25 in the first cohort and 24 in the second. Last year, Nigeria’s top three national winners represented our country at the Global Competition. Of those winners, Rita’s Ecobarter clinched the global award for the best female climate solution in Vienna.
“This year, we invited innovations from across the country to participate in a virtual pre-accelerator workshop. Our expert team introduced essential business concepts and helped participants refine their pitches”
The Leader confirmed that the Group received over 180 applications, but narrowed down to top 50, and finally its committee of external judges selected top 24 innovations.
Akinsulire revealed that Cycle 2’s top 24 include companies like Let-It-Cold, has developed off-grid technology to refrigerate farm produce in remote areas. Schrödinger’s solar-enabled technology purifies water within a minute, ensuring safe drinking water with minimal climate impact.
While Fabricthread is exploring new ways to recycle textile waste. These innovators hail from various regions and participated in its National Academy – a week-long intensive bootcamp.
“The program culminated in a National Competition where we identify and reward innovators who have best leveraged the program to grow. 10 of 24 innovators competed, with independent judges from the Japan External Trade Organisation and Innovation UK, along with observers from UNIDO and CcHUB.
“We want to mitigate the impact of climate change. We may not yet have the grand-scale inventions of the West, but we are moving forward even as we open applications for the next cohort soon” he added.
In a remark, the National Programme Officer, UNIDO Regional Office in Nigeria, Mr. Reuben Bamidele, decried Nigeria’s economy reliance on fossil fuels, saying, despite the importance of energy to the economy, low access to modern energy services remains a principal constraint to Nigeria’s economic development.
“Nigeria has one of the highest energy poverty rates in the world: about 47% of its population does not have access to grid electricity while those who have access, face regular power cuts. The economic impact of unreliable grid operations is estimated to be around $28bn. Lack of reliable access to electricity is a major constraints to the private sector according to the 2020 Doing Business Report of World Bank”
Bamidele asserted that improving power sector performance, particularly in the non-oil sector, is crucial to foster economic growth, alerting that Nigeria is particularly vulnerable to climate change; classified as one of the ten most vulnerable countries in the world, according to 2017 Climate Change Vulnerability Index.
“Nigeria’s contribution to global climate change is relatively small, though non-negligible. In 2018, an estimated 104.3 MtCO2 was emitted from fossil fuel combustion (roughly the same amount as Austria and Hungary combined).
“However, on a per capita basis, Nigeria’s emissions are relatively low: about 0.5 tCO2/person/year (against an average EU of 6.1 tCO2/person/year). This low figure can be explained by the country’s over-reliance on traditional biomass and waste as the primary energy source.
“Nigeria is a member state of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and is under obligation to the global convention but more importantly, to the safe and well-being of its people and its environment”
He stressed that Nigeria is in dire need of sustainable and environmentally friendly innovations. As over 50 percent of the country’s population are youths which confers demographic dividend for discovering new, modern and clean innovations across various sectors are needed.
“There is a dire need for clean technologies in and from Nigeria. This does not just help Nigeria with its climate change and Paris Agreement obligations, but also cements Nigeria’s status as an emerging economic and technological giant. Nigeria’s youthful population can be used as an advantage for driving a clean technology development and application in the country.
“The platform of GCIP will aggregate and enhance efforts to strengthen and connect the ecosystems of partner countries like Nigeria, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay, and at the same time connect them to a truly global innovation ecosystem”
He added, “Over time, the Cleantech programme seeks to build robust innovation ecosystems that can identify and systematically support high-impact cleantech technology innovations as well as attract large-scale investments.
“This mechanism is expected to deliver significant global impact on limiting global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees centigrade as well as generating local environmental benefits.
“GCIP works directly with entrepreneurs by providing business training and facilitating connection with finance. It also looks at the overall Cleantech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (CIEE), contributing to create an environment in which cleantech enterprises can thrive”
FMIST he stressed has recognized that a resilient and effective innovative system which caters for all the diversities in the country requires the right conditions for innovation and entrepreneurship development where people have the motivation, resources, creativity and timing to absorb, generate and apply new ideas that have value.
Hence, this project is helping SMEs and identifying Start-ups to compete on the global market and connect them to potential investors, customers and partners through the global Cleantech network. GCIP will help Start-ups and SMEs in Nigeria to focus on promoting low carbon technologies in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13 among others.
“Currently, UNIDO is partnering with the Government of Nigeria through the FMIST and the Federal Ministry of Environment to develop the Technology Needs Assessment for the sectors identified in Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
“UNIDO has supported the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish the Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) in the country. As we look forward to significant change in Nigeria’s cleantech business ecosystem.
“I reaffirm UNIDO’s commitment to working with the Nigerian government and the Nigerian private sector towards achieving an Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development without compromising the quality of the environment” he averred.