ENHANCING RENEWABLE ENERGY TRAINING FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA'S POWER SECTOR

The shift toward sustainable energy systems in Nigeria depends on the availability of a well-trained workforce capable of installing, operating and maintaining renewable energy technologies. Despite growing recognition of renewable energy as a viable solution to the country’s energy challenges, workforce development within the power sector continues to face obstacles such as inadequate training facilities, outdated curricula, and limited institutional support. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of renewable energy training and its role in workforce development within Nigeria’s power sector through a mixed-methods approach involving surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and policy document analysis. Data were obtained from 150 participants, comprising students, trainers, policymakers, and energy industry professionals, to assess factors including awareness of renewable energy technologies, availability of training programs, curriculum integration, institutional preparedness, and industry engagement. Findings indicated that while stakeholder awareness of renewable energy technologies is relatively high (78%), only 42% of institutions provide formal training programs. Furthermore, curriculum integration and collaboration with industry remain low, at 30% and 25%, respectively. The results revealed substantial gaps in practical training resources, instructor expertise, and the alignment of educational programmes with industry requirements. The study emphasizes the need for strategic workforce development initiatives through curriculum enhancement, capacity strengthening, and stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors.  It concludes that an integrated and policy-oriented framework is crucial for addressing existing skill shortages and facilitating Nigeria’s transition to a sustainable, reliable and resilient power sector.

 

Keywords: Renewable Energy Sources, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Fossil Fuel, Power Generation, Energy Demand.