By Funke Oduwole

The need to achieve clean and sustainable sources of energy to boost economic development has further strengthened cooperation between Nigeria and the United States US, as it Trade and Development Agency, USTDA, recently awarded grants to two of its Nigerian partners for the development of onsite power plant which will use a combination of renewable energy resources to meet the  growing electricity needs. 

The $864,000 about N130 million, grant was officially handed over to representatives of the firms, Digital Bridge Institute, DBI, an information and communications technology training centre and the LADOL Integrated Logistics Free Zone Enterprise, LiLE, a private sector logistics provider, by Robin Sanders, US ambassador to Nigeria.

 It was clearly stated that the grants was particularly meant to support the upgrading of DBI’s training campus in Lagos into a science and technology park by making recommendations on necessary energy and information and communication technology, ICT, infrastructure  while it would assist  LADOL in effectively pursuing its core activity to boost electricity generation.

Handing the checks over to Raymond Akwule, chief executive officer, CEO, DBI and Sarah Jadesimi, CEO, LiLE, at the signing ceremony in Lagos, Sanders extolled the commitments of both organisations to the innovative use of renewable energy technologies.  “These USTDA-funded feasibility studies will assist DBI and LiLE in their efforts to evaluate renewable energy alternatives and create an environment conducive to business

The DBI has training campuses in three Nigerian cities of Kano, Abuja, and   Lagos. It was established by the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC,  in 2004 to provide Nigerian engineers and ICT workers with advanced technology training.  DBI’s Oshodi campus has several decisive advantages which make it attractive for the development of a science and technology park, including direct access to the SAT-3 undersea fibre optic cable, existing right-of-way for new submarine cables, existing facilities, and direct access to the large and rapidly developing market in Lagos, in addition to DBI’s on-campus training facilities. 

LiLE provides logistical and other support services to Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas industry from their operating base east of Lagos.  As LiLE looks to significantly expand the scope of its operations in the face of steadily growing demand, a captive source of clean, reliable and affordable power solutions is of the utmost importance to the long-term sustainability of LiLE’s operations.  The recommended solution will likely consist of a hybrid of waste-to-energy, solar and conventional generation technologies.

The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility studies for the DBI and the LADOL Integrated Logistics Free Zone Enterprise will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities website

Sanders: Extols the efforts of DBI and LiLE

Akwule and Jadesimi: Represent their firms