The NNPC Foundation Ltd has urged Nigerian youths to deploy Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) knowledge in addressing energy deficit.
The foundation made the call through its Managing Director, Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, at the “Battle of the Energy Titans” Awards Ceremony and official unveiling of the “Energy on Wheels Project for Schools”.
The event which held in Abuja yesterday was organised by the NNPC Foundation, in collaboration with the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Entrepreneurs Development (OLOGED), a Nigerian non- profit that promotes energy and environmental education for schools and communities.
Stating that the project was designed to engage stakeholders at all levels and encourage Nigerians to play an active role in addressing the nation’s energy deficit, Arukwe said it would also promote energy infrastructure protection.
Further on addressing energy deficit in the country, she stated: “We want Nigerians to see themselves as partners in the energy sector. Rather than working against energy development, they should work with us to help make energy more affordable and accessible for everyone.
“The Energy on Wheels project is not just for NNPC; it is for all Nigerians because it is about our collective energy future and sustainability,” she said.
Arukwe said energy poverty remained a pressing challenge globally and stressed the need for young Nigerians to position themselves at the forefront of the ongoing energy transition.
“The world is moving at an incredibly fast pace. Energy poverty is real and urgent.
“The power that lights our homes, the fuel that drives our industries and the innovations that connect us must evolve.
“The energy transition is here, and Nigeria’s youth must be the ones leading the way,” she said.
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The NNPC Foundation boss said the Foundation was investing in education in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to create opportunities for young people to thrive.
“You are among the few who have been given this opportunity, and it comes with responsibility. Use it to innovate, create and lead your peers,” she told the participants.
“The NNPC Ltd., as Africa’s largest energy company, is not only investing in gas, renewable energy and cleaner technologies but also developing future innovators and leaders.
She said that since its establishment in 2023, the NNPC Foundation had focused its interventions on four critical areas: education, health, environment and access to energy.
According to her, the Foundation’s education empowerment programmes have trained more than 500 Nigerian youths, equipping them with skills for employment and entrepreneurship in both science and creative industries.
She added that the Foundation had also supported young creatives through the African Film Finance Forum (AFFF), helping them pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
“Through initiatives such as the STEM Book Project, NYSC Empowerment Programme and Climate-Smart Agriculture training, we are equipping thousands of Nigerians with the skills to innovate, feed the nation and protect the environment,” she added.
