GREEN TECH: Nigeria gets $2.6m UNIDO support

Managing Director for Programme Development and Technical Cooperation Division of the United Nation International Development Organization, UNIDO, Philippe Scholtes has announced a $2.6 million support fund for rural electricity in Nigeria. Scholtes disclosed this at the weekend when he visited the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Onu Ogbonnaya in his office in Abuja. Scholtes said the fund was secured for Nigeria from Global Environment Facilities, GEF, to improve its electricity
generation in rural communities across the country. He explained that the fund will be used to generate power through small scale hydro power to ensure electricity gets to rural areas in the country. He said: “We made the case; we obtained funding for 2.6 million dollars to help us demonstrate the small scale hydro-power to powerhouse and factories in places that have not been reached by the electricity.” “This project funded by Global Environment Facility funds is meant to help countries address environment issues that can benefit the global communities,” he said. With the fund, Scholtes said that the investors in Nigeria would be encouraged to execute the project and expand it to disseminate the kind of technology needed. He however, expressed UNIDO’s interest to strengthen its relationship with Nigeria to grow necessary areas that would contribute to the growth of the nation. “UNIDO will work to support inclusive and sustainable industrial development and also find a way to help Nigeria build green technology through skills development and innovation,” he said. Responding, the minister commended UNIDO for its support and contributions to Nigeria and the global community with the partnership to grow energy and on agro-business. He solicited for more support from UNIDO to further increase it efforts as well toward boosting agriculture to ensure food security in the country. The minister reiterated the ministry’s to use science and technology to save the nation by growing it economy.