CREN Leadership Summit Held in Bauchi

Communique of Council for Renewable Energy in Nigeria

(CREN) Leadership Summit Held in Bauchi, 15 July 2008

1.0 Preamble

The CREN Leadership forum organized by the CREN Executive Management Committee and the National Office in partnership with the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Afribank Investment Finance, Rural Electrification Agency, the Bauchi State Government and spirited individuals was held at Hotel Sinbada Bauchi on the 15th of July 2008. The Summit was planned to put in place strategies to actualize the objectives and mission of CREN to the benefit of all and sundry,by gathering a host of the premier stakeholders of renewable energy.

His excellency, Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, the Matawalin of Bauchi, was represented by Hajiya Hajara Yakubu Wanka; Special Assistant Millennium Development Goals in Bauchi State who chaired the occasion. The Summit was attended by over 70 individuals from all works of life. The welcome address was presented by Professor Titilayo Kuku, the Chairman of the Executive Management Committee Of Council for Renewable energy in Nigeria, followed by goodwill messages by the Assistant Director of Engineering, Technology & Infrastructure Eng. Ozigi of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria and Managing Director of Afribank investment Finance Mr. Ben Nwoji, thereafter the Summit was declared open by the chairperson Hajiya Hajara Yakubu Wanka.

The Summit Featured three (3) Papers presented by the National Office representatives, Monica Samec, Ugah Godwin Unimke, and Editi Effiong (represented by Monica Samec). Participants were later given the the opportunity to ask questions. This was immediately followed by the division of the participants into five(5) different groups to carry out the organization’s SWOT analysis which is a tool for effective Startegic Planing and Modeling.

Observations/Recommendation /Implementation

2.0 Observations

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The summit observed that:

(a)The organization lacked sufficient awareness creation mechanism (publicity).

(b) That there is a weak membership base for CREN in Nigeria due to lack of awareness

(c)Not much attention is given to networks of renewable energy in Nigeria, such as CREN

(d) There is a willingness of individuals and groups to participate in the propagation of renewable energy.

(e) Lack of appropriate financial institution’s involvement

(f) There is inadequate funding

(g) Insufficient government involvement

(h) Renewable energy is vital in the nation’s energy mix if success must be achieved in the energy sector.

(I)Lack of rural integration in renewable energy advancement.

(j) Insufficient capacity building initiatives.

3.0 Recommendations

(a) There should be an intensive press /media campaign

(b) The Executive Management Committee should encourage government to be more serious about renewable energy by involving viable partnerships.

(c) Activities such as the leadership summit be replicated in other states just as formation of other chapters should be taken more serious

(d) That CREN should be mainstreamed into the social sector

(e) CREN should work closely with the legislature and other stakeholders on formation of policies that will enhance the process of renewable energy

(f) CREN should also get financial institutions involved such as Afribank.

(g)Academic institution should be involved in CREN activities

(h)Need for capacity building for sustainability of the organization.

(i)That CREN should liaise with the government on creating a level playing ground on which Renewable energy can thrive successfully, thereby creating opportunities for RE networks like CREN.

Prof Titilayo Kuku,

Chairman,

Executive Management Committee (CREN)

&President Solar Energy Society of Nigeria,

Mrs. Anita Okuribido,

Executive Secretary,

Executive Management Committee (CREN)