In a fresh push to tackle Nigeria’s electricity deficit and accelerate rural development, the Federal Government on Monday partnered with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the Chinese government to launch a Small Hydropower Centre of Excellence in Abuja.
The initiative, funded by the China International Development Cooperation Agency, is designed to expand renewable energy capacity, deepen rural electrification, and support agro-industrial growth across underserved communities.
The project, the first of its kind in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, will be domiciled at the University of Abuja and is expected to serve as a regional hub for technical training, policy development, and knowledge transfer in small hydropower deployment.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Regional Director of UNIDO, Philbert Johnson, described energy as a critical driver of economic growth, noting that Nigeria’s vast renewable energy potential remains largely underutilised.