News
Sustainability of Clean and Renewable Energy
By Okoko Chidozie Christian
[email protected]; 09025179984.
Modern civilization is possible because people have learned to change energy from one form to another, then use it to do work.
Hence, people use energy for a variety of things such as to walk, ride bicycle, move cars along roads and boats through water, to cook food on stove and gas, to make ice in freezer, to light homes and offices, to manufacture products and to send astronauts into space.(Energy Information Administration, EIA,U.S.A).
Each year, the stakes grow higher in the fight to save the environment and combat global warming, and we are aware of the damaging effects that current dependence on fossil fuel holds for our collective future. So, energy source that cannot be depleted remains viable forever.
Biofuel- the process where fossil fuel is replaced by organic material as an alternative source and sustainable fuel derived from abundant biological source (biomass) provides cleaner combustion and reduces greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere.
For example, the use of biodiesel which has gained recognition as a viable alternative to fossil fuel is renewable and environmental-friendly energy sources, research reveals.
Economically, replacing fossil fuel with biofuel has the potential to generate a number of benefits like increasing farm income because many biofuel feedstocks (raw material used for processing or manufacturing another product) require land, water, and other resources.
Examples of feedstocks include corn, which is used to produce ethanol; soybean oil, which is used to produce biodiesel, a renewable, biodegradable fuel manufactured domestically from vegetable oils, animal fats etc.
Moreover, biomass is a broad term covering all organic materials including that from plants, trees like straw, crop, wood and animals like poultry litters, and can be considered a clean, renewable form of energy and electricity as its growth removes greenhouse gases like carbon-dioxide(CO2) from the atmosphere and stores the carbon-dioxide inside the soil, trees and other vegetation.
This clean energy from renewable, zero emission sources which do not pollute the atmosphere when used as well as energy saved by energy efficiency measures has been very affordable, efficient and inevitable for a sustainable world.
Also, they involve a universal access to electricity and modern energy sources while reducing reliance on fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas, bitumen and oil shales) and transitioning to renewables energy (recyclable source) alternatives. But, the burning issue is that renewable energy consumption has been steadily increased over the last decades and monitored as part of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals, SDGs.
In the United Kingdom, their largest source of renewable energy consumed is not from sun or wind, rather it is from the biomass (biofuel) which is organic material from plants and animals.
And, this has made the UK greenhouse gas emission to fall, and the sources of greenhouse gas emission relating to electricity products changed as the use of renewable source of electricity like biomass has also increased.
Moreover, energy crisis especially the poor access and affordability, demand and supply mismatch, energy inequality, high dependency on non-renewable energy sources are the challenges for sustainable development(Singh. S, et al).
Even, the environment in which organisms live are being polluted due to vast availability of non-renewable energy which will eventually deplete over time.
Today, clean energy has provided us with a variety of environmental and economic benefits including a reduction in air pollution. Thus, a diverse clean energy supply has reduced the dependency on imported fuel (and the associated financial and environmental costs). Also, there is irrelevant cost savings for the clean energy supply because there is no need to extract and transport fuels such as oil or coal, knowing very well that they replenish themselves naturally.
Accordingly, the most important aspect of clean energy are the environmental benefits as part of a global energy futureas reliance of fossil fuels continue to diminish, research unfolds. It has industrially benefitted humans in the field of job creation to develop, manufacture and install the clean energy resource for the future.
Recently, there was a Clean Energy Summit in Dubai, UAE tagged COP28with over ninety-seven thousand (97,000) delegates from 118 countries around the world. The policy of the conference “…to transition away from fossil fuels”- which is the main driver of climate change brings together people to take actions on achieving a common goal and proffer collective solutions to a nagging global concern. So, as we aspire toward global clean and renewable energy sustenance, the cost will fall, and work will be created to develop and install the new energy solutions.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
Cisco is exploring artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions to support smallholder farmers in Nigeria, as part of efforts to expand digital inclusion and technology adoption.
The initiative focuses on improving agricultural productivity through accessible, data-driven tools.
The move aligns with growing collaboration between Nigeria and the United States under the Commercial and Investment Partnership, which prioritises the digital economy, agriculture and infrastructure.
Speaking at the 2026 World Business Chicago, Brian Tippens, chief social impact and inclusion Officer at Cisco, said the company is assessing practical AI applications to help farmers combine local knowledge with data insights.
He said Cisco is exploring tools such as AI-enabled WhatsApp communities, geospatial mapping and weather intelligence to support day-to-day farming decisions.
The approach reflects a shift towards low-cost, mobile-first solutions suited to rural environments.
Tippens added that the Cisco Foundation is investing in early-stage startups developing technologies for local agricultural challenges.
Industry analysts note that AI adoption in emerging markets depends on locally relevant solutions, rather than large-scale enterprise deployments alone.
Beyond agriculture, Cisco plans to expand digital skills development in Nigeria through programmes such as the Cisco Networking Academy’s One Million Learners initiative.
Tippens said the programme also supports partnerships with organisations working with persons with disabilities, including those developing tools for people with visual impairments.
He added that Cisco’s social impact strategy aims to improve access to technology and promote inclusion, including in conflict-affected regions such as Borno State.
Cisco’s initiatives form part of broader efforts to link digital skills, connectivity and AI adoption to economic development in Nigeria.
Africa Prudential Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable growth and digital transformation after posting another strong half-year financial performance, driven by robust growth in its core registrar business, technology-driven solutions and increased activity in Nigeria’s capital market.
Speaking during the company’s H1 2026 Investor Call on Tuesday, the management outlined plans to deepen revenue diversification and accelerate innovation as part of efforts to reduce reliance on interest income and strengthen long-term profitability.
The company reported gross earnings of ₦4.28 billion for the first half of 2026, representing a 27 per cent increase from ₦3.34 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Profit before tax rose by 22 per cent to ₦2.41 billion, while profit after tax climbed 18 per cent to ₦1.59 billion.
Net operating income also increased by 27 per cent to ₦4.21 billion, while total assets grew by 13 per cent to ₦46.53 billion. Shareholders’ funds similarly rose by 13 per cent to ₦12.52 billion.
According to the company, the impressive performance was driven by sustained growth in its registrar business, increased corporate actions across the Nigerian capital market, stronger treasury earnings supported by the prevailing interest rate environment and rising adoption of its technology-enabled products and services.African Mineral Wealth
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Catherine Nwosu, said Africa Prudential is steadily evolving from a traditional share registrar into a diversified technology and business solutions provider serving the broader capital market ecosystem.
Addressing concerns from investors about the sustainability of earnings if interest rates decline, Nwosu said the company was deliberately expanding its non-interest income sources.
“Interest rates influence our treasury income positively, but that is why we are deliberately diversifying our revenue streams. Our strategy is to grow recurring fee-based business lines such as our digital solutions, Know Your Customer (KYC) services, AGM technology, probate services and the SabiVest mobile app. Over time, this will reduce our reliance on interest income and create a more balanced and resilient earnings mix,” she said.
She noted that increasing activity in the Nigerian capital market presents fresh opportunities for technology-driven solutions.
“With capital market activity nearly doubling over the past year, demand for seamless digital investor experiences, improved market efficiency and stronger compliance standards continues to grow. We are investing in technology-enabled solutions that position us to capitalise on these opportunities while delivering sustainable value to our shareholders,” she added.
Looking ahead, the company identified five strategic priorities for the second half of 2026, including driving sustainable growth through its core registrar business and new revenue streams, accelerating technology-led product innovation, strengthening brand leadership, investing in talent development and reinforcing corporate governance.
The investor call attracted institutional investors, shareholders, analysts, regulators and other capital market stakeholders, reflecting strong interest in Africa Prudential’s earnings outlook, revenue diversification strategy and long-term growth plans.
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