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By Paul Williams
Non-governmental organisation, Quest For Growth and Development Foundation, has taken the campaign for socially-owned and decentralized renewable energy across Africa to schools and communities in Nigeria.
Coordinator of Quest For Growth and Development Foundation, Smith Nwokocha, said the campaign “is all about Repowering Nigeria, and through it, Repowering Africa.”
The program, held as part of the Afrika Vuka Day, took place at Community Secondary Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt on Thursday May 22, 2025.
Nwokocha said the focus is on how renewable energy can become socially-owned by community members, and sensitizing communities on the fact that solar is environmentally friendly, natural, easy to use and noiseless.
He said solar energy is a better alternative to fossil fuels and the electricity deficiency issues in Nigeria.
“Repowering Nigeria simply means to ensure that there is a clean energy in Nigeria, which is what Afrika Vuka Network is championing.
“We can’t achieve a regular clean energy supply without repowering Nigeria. So our ability to repower Nigeria is to having devices that connect to renewable energy.”
He said, “We know that we have a challenge in Nigeria, which is energy deficit. Repowering Nigeria means taking care of that energy deficit.
“And by the time you approach and embrace renewable energy, things like solar and other forms of renewable energy, you’ll be able to address that issue of energy deficit.
“That is our challenge, and that is what it means to repower Nigeria,” he said.
Nwokocha noted that the event was “to sensitize the students. Because when you conscientize the students, they get the message across to their parents. Some of these parents are lawmakers, policymakers, work in the ministry or in different sectors.
“So we are here to tell them how repowering Nigeria can repower Africa. Also today is Africa Vuka Day, which is tied to Africa Day. We’re happy that the students have learnt today and are part of the whole informational activity,” Nwokocha said.
Mrs. Anne Jubo-Thompson, principal UBE, CSS Oroworukwo, said the information on renewable energy passed on to the students and teachers by Quest for Development and Growth “have so impacted our lives, because for one, the children have learnt about solar.
“They have a slogan, Vuka Africa, Lighting Up Nigeria, etc. They have something they will talk about at home and their parents will ask them, what is that for?
“We have seen that we can use solar to charge our batteries, our torch lights, our phones.
“The children and teachers are all excited. We thank you all for coming to teach us something new, both teachers and students. We are all happy and we say thank you very much,” she said.
A JSS3 student, Miiss Queen Miracle Ubam, who is Senior Prefect of the junior secondary school, thanked the NGO for sensitizing the school on renewable energy, adding that “to to repower Nigeria means to repower Africa, and we should stop fossil fuel.
“We are trying to tell the government to stop the release of fossil fuel that is disturbing the environment and everywhere.
“Also, I learnt that we should encourage children to help, to advocate on how to stop fossil fuel,” she said.
Another student, Monday Olubari, in JSS2, said “I love the program because of the way they are using it to repower Africa and Nigeria. I understand that when you are repowering Nigeria, the solar is very easy to use, and it is noiseless.”
