Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, has called for policies that support youth involvement in renewable energy, especially in African countries like Nigeria. He proposed measures such as tax breaks and vocational grants to help young people enter the renewable energy sector.
Ogene made the remarks during a side event at the ongoing COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event was co-hosted by the Committee on Renewable Energy and INCLUDE, a knowledge platform based in the Netherlands. The gathering brought together leaders to discuss climate change and energy transitions.
He emphasized the need for more youth and legislator participation in climate policy discussions, suggesting that their involvement would lead to better-informed decisions and stronger policy formulation. The event, titled “Driving the Just Transition: Labor-Based Incentives and Youth-Centric Policies for a Sustainable Future,” focused on creating fair and inclusive strategies for renewable energy in Africa. The discussions highlighted the importance of labor-based incentives, youth-focused policies, and job creation in the renewable energy sector.
Dr. Anika Altaf, Executive Director of INCLUDE, proposed mentorship programs and international funding to help support youth-led renewable energy projects. The event also addressed ways to provide financial support for young entrepreneurs, such as grants for youth-led startups and subsidies for renewable energy skills development. The goal was to design policies that ensure equitable access to opportunities in the sector.
