The Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has granted seed research funds totaling N12 million to 12 student groups. These beneficiaries were selected for their innovative and entrepreneurial ideas aimed at fostering sustainable energy and power development.
Each research group received N1 million to advance their ideas over a six-month period. The projects selected for funding encompass a wide range of initiatives, including creating solar power stations for shops and events, developing hydro-thermal generator pressure varying systems, and producing handheld watermelon ripeness detectors for Nigerian farmers.
During the ceremony, Professor Emenike Ejiogu, the director of ACE-SPED, emphasized the center’s commitment to promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer in sustainable energy and power development. He highlighted that the grants mark the initial phase of a journey toward realizing and commercializing innovative ideas, ultimately addressing societal needs and elevating the University of Nigeria and the students involved.
Ejiogu underscored ACE-SPED’s readiness to engage industrial partners to facilitate the commercialization of these ideas, emphasizing the rigorous selection process that led to the identification of the 12 student groups with the greatest potential for impact and success.
He urged both government and private sector stakeholders to prioritize investment in research and innovation within higher education institutions, recognizing their pivotal role in driving Nigeria’s economic development.
ACE-SPED, established in 2019 with support from the World Bank and the AFD, offers Master’s and Doctoral degrees in various accredited programs related to renewable energy, power engineering, sustainable materials engineering, and more. With over 250 students enrolled, including participants from across Africa, ACE-SPED is poised to revolutionize the energy and power development landscape in sub-Saharan Africa.