Katsina varsity trains communities on energy sources

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha who disclosed this during a three- day sensitization workshop organised by the renewable energy research unit (RERU) of the university said the aim was to harness other renewable energy sources to meet both rural and urban energy needs of the state.  The workshop which was first […]

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha who disclosed this during a three- day sensitization workshop organised by the renewable energy research unit (RERU) of the university said the aim was to harness other renewable energy sources to meet both rural and urban energy needs of the state.

 The workshop which was first organised to executives of the state and local governments on the development potentials of renewable energy technologies was, according to the VC aimed to create awareness for the integration of energy policies in local programs.

Professor Mustapha disclosed the areas to be harnessed would include the use of solar, wind and bio mass as well as developing a framework for energy efficiency and conservation.

In an address, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji (Dr) Abdulmumini Kabir Usman urged the university to develop a safe renewable energy system that would mitigate the associated environmental and human hazards in the use of generators and other wood- cooking devices.   

The Emir who was represented by Sa’in Katsina, Ahmadu Na Funtau Abdulkadir lamented reported cases of death and suffocation due to use of domestic generators which also affect the cost of production for our local industries making them less competitive in global economy.  

In the same vein, the wife of the state governor Hajiya Fatima Ibrahim decried the role of women in energy equation in the state and lamented how rural women spend substantial part of their time fetching fuel wood for cooking and other domestic uses.

These practices she said, always exposed them to toxic carbon monoxide which impaired their sights and health, saying developing alternative cooking devices would not only support but improve their health and allow them partake in other economic activities.   

She added that she hoped the awareness would help develop a framework for energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy usage and the integration of same into the development programmes of states and local governments for socio economic development.