Nigeria has 50 percent deficit of skilled labour in renewable energy sector– Hon. Ogene

The House of Representatives committee on Renewable Energy has said that Nigeria has 50 per cent skilled labour deficit in the renewable energy sector.

The statement was made by the Chairman, House Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Afam Ogene, during the Africa Policy Dialogue (APD) workshop, with theme: “Green jobs and low carbon transition,” in Abuja on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Ogene said that the skilled manpower deficit had impeded employment of quality technicians and employees in the sector.

“Employers across the country consistently report difficulty hiring qualified technicians, engineers and system operators,” he said.

He also decried the gap in local equipment manufacturing, saying that most of the equipment used in renewable energy power generation were imported, and this, according to him, has the potential to cause loss of green job opportunities.

Ogene, however, said that this development was not as a result of shortage of raw resources for local manufacturers, but because of the skill gaps and inadequate policies to ensure knowledge transfer.

He explained that the gap was not just a workforce problem, but a policy issue.

He further noted that China, through its green job programme, backed by government policies and funding, had recorded over seven million green jobs.

He called on academic institutions in Nigeria to align with the energy transition demands.