The leading association representing Nigerian Institutional, Corporate and Individual Professionals and leaders in the Renewable and Clean Energy Space, Council for Renewable Energy Nigeria (CREN), has elected new Executive Management Committee and Advisory Board to pilot the affairs of the Council.
The elections, which took place at CREN’s 2019 Annual General Meeting held recently in Abuja, saw the emergence of Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, chief executive of Asteven International Energy Group as the National President.
Dr. Sunny Akpoyibo, an international expert on Renewable Energy and Green Growth takes over from Chief Mrs Anita Nana Okuribido, who joins the Advisory Board as Secretary. The New President is joined by Dr Imamuddeen Talba, a former legal director of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC. Mr Sam Ifeanyi Nwosu and Engr. Ganda Yusuf Mohammed, who were re-elected to another term on the Management Committee, will serve as Secretary General and Treasurer respectively. Newly elected Engr. Jennifer Emiola and Ms Olanike Olugboji, strong advocates for women entrepreneurship and empowerment have also joined the committee as Asst. Secretary and Auditor. Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje, Chair of CREN Imo State Chapter who is aldo the Chair of the National Working Committee of the Nigeria Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (NiPBES) and President of the Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN) joins the team as the National Publicity Secretary. Prof. Abubakar Sambo will continue in his current capacity as the Chair of the reconstituted Advisory Board with Alh. Isiaka Jimoh, joining him as at-large Board member.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, said “I am honoured to have the privilege to serve as the CREN President going forward. I follow in the path of the past president who devoted her all to ensuring the sustainability of this organization and I pledge to embark on very vigorous advocacy campaigns.”
“We are going to create more capacity for the youth. It has become an epidemic of hopelessness. You see them on the streets, dying of hunger; you see them risking their lives on the high seas, trying to get to Europe believing there is a better life there. Because they feel there are no opportunities. CREN as an organization stands in the right path to advocate on this through renewable energy and thus capacity will create more jobs and give them skills to compete in life. We shall also work assiduously to provide funding windows for members and also for those that shall undergo entrepreneurship training through CREN. A lot still has to be done and I assure you that we shall do all we can to make a difference in the coming years..”
Also speaking, Secretary General, Sam Ifeanyi Nwosu averred that “The CREN Executive Management Committee and Advisory Board continues to provide excellent leadership for federal and state level interventions and innovations to transform the energy sector in Nigeria through Renewable Energy technologies and applications.
“We are focused on many issues such as: digitalization, entrepreneurship, women and youth empowerment, policy formulation and implementation, raw materials sourcing, standardization of learning, materials and skills deployment, access to sustainable funding, access to sustainable power and interoperability. The Committee believes firmly that when we all partner together, we can work to address these issues and the energy security challenges of Nigeria in a productive way, sustainable and environmentally friendly way.”
National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje who is an energy and environment advocate, emphasised the importance of the continuous promotion of Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation for the achievement of the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), protection and productive elongation of human existence, agriculture and human security.
In addition to its AGM, the occasion provided the opportunity for CREN state members to engage with private sector partners and other organizations in the sector; and e-stratgise to effectively play the Council’s role in the development of Nigeria. New members of the Council were also inducted during the AGM.
Business Hilights recalls that CREN was founded in 2007 as a principal non-profit membership association representing Nigerian renewable energy and clean energy space with a mission to identify, utilize and deploy large scale renewable energy technologies in Nigeria.
Other elected officials of CREN are as follows:
- Dr Imamuddeen Talba, Past Legal Director, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC (Deputy National President)
- Sam Ifeanyi Nwosu, Environment Africa (Secretary General)
- Engr. Jennifer Emiola-Iyiola, NIAKK International Business Ltd (Asst. Secretary)
- Engr. Ganda Mohammed Yusuf (Treasurer)
- Ms Olanike Olugboji, Women Initiative for Sustainable Environment (Auditor)
- Dr Uzodinma Adirieje, Country Director/Faculty Lead, Health Systems & Projects Consultants Ltd (National Publicity Secretary)
- Prof. Abubakar Sambo, Nigerian Chapter-World Energy Council (Chair-Advisory board)
- Alh. Isiaka Jimoh, Chemtech Chemicals and Energy (Member – Advisory Board)
- Chief Mrs Anita Nana Okuribido (Ex-Officio / Secretary, Advisory Board)
- Engr Rotimi Oladimeji, Ondo State Water Board, (Ex-Officio 11).
