The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), with funding support from the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), on Monday officially launched the "Establishment of a Small Hydropower Center of Excellence in Nigeria Project."

The project, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region, will serve as a regional hub for knowledge transfer, technical training, and policy guidance in Small Hydropower (SHP) development.

To be situated at the University of Abuja, the project will also promote hybrid renewable energy solutions that combine SHP with solar and wind technologies to strengthen energy resilience, particularly in rural areas.

Speaking on Monday during the inception workshop and launch of the project in Abuja, Director and UNIDO Representative to ECOWAS, UNIDO Regional Hub Nigeria, Ambassador Philbert Johnson, stated that Nigeria is endowed with a tremendous amount of renewable energy resources, such as hydropower, solar, biomass, and wind. He noted that despite the country's substantial SHP potential, less than 5 per cent has been developed due to technical, financial, and policy barriers.

Highlighting the great potential towards increasing access to affordable electricity and addressing climate change, he said: "The Centre will serve as a hub for SHP knowledge transfer, technical training, and policy guidance, benefiting Nigeria and the broader West African region. Additionally, the Centre will support the integration of hybrid renewable energy solutions, combining SHP with solar and wind technologies to enhance energy resilience and sustainability."

While appreciating the Chinese Delegation in Nigeria and the federal government for their invaluable support towards the project, Johnson emphasised that through this initiative, Nigeria can harness its hydropower potential, improve rural electrification, and drive socio-economic growth, setting a model for similar initiatives across Africa.

In his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, noted that the Centre is an innovative step to implement the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation Forecast.

Highlighting the hydropower potential of Nigeria, he said: "Nigeria possesses abundant hydropower resources, yet much of this remains untapped. The country still faces significant challenges in providing reliable and sustainable power supply. This energy gap deepens socio-economic hardships and constrains industrial development. Small hydropower is a mature and efficient renewable energy solution. It is particularly suited for rural and remote areas and aligns perfectly with Nigeria's needs.

"In view of this, the Chinese government has decided to jointly establish this Centre through trilateral cooperation with UNIDO and the Nigerian government, with financial support provided by the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund of China."

In his intervention, Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, lauded the project, as it would push the frontiers of renewable energy availability and accessibility in the country.

"This project will bridge the yawning energy gap which the country needs as of today, particularly in industrialisation, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and also the renewable agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

"We are aware that the knowledge transfer, the technical training, the policy guidance will benefit Nigeria and the broader West African sub-region. I want to assure you of the full institutional support of the University of Abuja to this laudable project because we expect to see a synergy and integration with other sources of clean and renewable energy, such as the windmill and the solar," he added.

In a presentation, Project Manager of UNIDO, Heng Liu, stated that despite Nigeria's significant potential in the sub-sector, only about 8 per cent of that was explored.

"Nigeria faces unreliable electricity, especially in rural areas, impacting economic growth and social well-being… Nigeria has 734.3 MW SHP potential with only 8 per cent developed, highlighting a need for renewable energy expansion.

"The SHP Centre provides training, innovation, and policy support to boost electrification and climate mitigation. Small hydropower offers low capital costs, minimal ecological impact, and suits diverse terrains for sustainable energy generation," he added.