Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, has called for policies that make renewable energy more accessible to young people in Africa, especially in Nigeria. Speaking at a side event during the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ogene suggested offering tax breaks and grants for vocational training to help empower youth in the renewable energy sector.
Ogene also urged that youth and lawmakers be included in discussions about climate change and energy transitions. He believes this will help create better policies and ensure that young people are actively involved in shaping the future of energy.
The event, titled “Driving the Just Transition: Labor-Based Incentives and Youth-Centric Policies for a Sustainable Future,” focused on finding practical ways to make the renewable energy transition in Africa fair and inclusive. The discussions centered around creating policies that support young people, such as providing financial incentives for youth-led businesses, offering subsidies for renewable energy training, and ensuring transparency and fairness in policy implementation.
Dr. Anika Altaf from INCLUDE and youth leader Farida Ally from Kenya were among the speakers. Altaf suggested mentorship programs and international funding to support youth-led renewable energy projects. The event highlighted how young people are already coming up with innovative solutions to meet the energy needs of their communities and how technology like AI can help make these solutions even more impactful in the fight against climate change.
Overall, the event emphasized the importance of creating policies that resonate with young people and provide them with real opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
