With the 2050 global target for net-zero emissions drawing closer, Nigeria — Africa’s biggest oil producer — still depends heavily on fossil fuels and remains uncertain about what the global shift to cleaner power means for its workforce and education system.
For students like Onwuma Ogeoliseyenum, a master’s candidate in production engineering at the University of Ibadan, the dilemma feels personal. “I am aware of the climate concerns driving the push for cleaner energy,” he said, “but there are no concrete steps within my school to prepare for the clean-energy era. There are, however, discussions about developing systems to make petroleum products cleaner.”
Dr Hauwa Abubakar Rasheed of Bayero University, Kano, says Nigerian universities are conceptually ready but operationally unprepared for the clean-energy age. While some institutions are exploring renewable-energy research, most still focus on hydrocarbons, reflecting the country’s oil-dependent past.
She argues that universities must rethink their curricula and research priorities around sustainability, the circular economy and low-carbon technologies. Her own work — converting agricultural waste into eco-friendly drilling materials — shows how renewable resources can support petroleum operations.
“The gaps are clear,” she said. “Research funding is poor, collaboration between industry, academia and government is weak, and policies are misaligned. However, with proper coordination, Nigerian universities could lead Africa’s clean-energy innovation.”
At the International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology, the Principal and Chief Executive of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Dr Samuel E. Onoji, said equipping students and professionals for the global energy transition had become a priority. While Nigeria must continue to exploit its hydrocarbon wealth, he explained, institutions such as PTI are reshaping training to bridge traditional oil expertise with the new demands of sustainable energy systems.
Nigeria declared 2021 the start of its “Decade of Gas,” setting a 2060 target for net-zero emissions — with natural gas serving as the transition fuel.
“We cannot completely abandon fossil fuels,” said Dr Bumie Ovuru, PTI’s Director of Services. “But as the world shifts towards cleaner energy, we are adapting — gradually but intentionally. Some of our modules now incorporate clean-energy systems. Electrical-maintenance students study power-efficiency techniques; our Environmental Technology Department focuses on sustainability; and Mechanical Engineering now introduces solar and other renewable applications.”
He added that PTI is also seeking to expand its mandate. “Our current focus is on training middle-level manpower for oil and gas, but expansion has become necessary. Institutes such as the French Institute of Petroleum have evolved into the French Institute of Petroleum and New Energies — and we are moving in that direction.”
However, the paradox of energy poverty persists. Despite Nigeria’s oil wealth, some 86 million citizens — about 39 per cent of the population — still live without electricity, according to Statista (2023).
Dr Kelechi Ofoegbu of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission once described the contrast vividly: “In parts of the Niger Delta, the night sky once bore a stark image — the unending glare of gas flares. The flame lit the horizon but never their homes; it roared above their villages, yet children still studied by candlelight.”
That, he said, is slowly changing as previously flared gas is now captured and channelled to power homes and small industries. For Nigeria and much of Africa, the question is no longer how many barrels of oil can be produced, but how well the resources are managed to attract sustainable investment and ensure a just energy transition.
Richmond Osuji, President of Lipservice Energy, believes the global energy-transition debate overlooks Africa’s realities. “The conversation is not honest,” he said. “What we should be talking about is energy mix, not transition. Nigeria must first achieve self-sufficiency in oil and gas to meet current demand. By 2050, that demand will be even higher.”
He cautioned against abandoning fossil fuels without reliable alternatives. “Countries in the global north still depend on oil and gas for their industries and living standards, yet they want us to give up what we have,” he argued. “We already use renewables, but we still need oil and gas to industrialise. About 85 per cent of Europe still depends on fossil fuels. What we need here is a balanced energy mix.”
Dr Excel Ukporhor of Nigeria LNG (NLNG) shares that outlook, assuring students that oil and gas will remain part of the global energy system. “There will always be oil and gas,” he said. “What will change is how we work with them. Students should upskill and diversify their knowledge to stay relevant and expand their influence.”
As the world edges towards cleaner energy, Nigeria’s universities are beginning to confront an unavoidable question: how to equip the next generation for an economy still powered by oil, but heading — however slowly — towards a post-oil future.
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