Scientist urges shift to nuclear power for sustainable energy future

A Nigerian-born American scientist, Engr. Iheanyichukwu Chukwugozie Ajoku, has called on the Federal Government to adopt nuclear energy as a key component of Nigeria’s long-term energy strategy, saying the country must move beyond oil to secure its economic and environmental future. Speaking on the theme, “Lighting Up the Nation: Moving Beyond Oil with Clean Energy,” […]

A Nigerian-born American scientist, Engr. Iheanyichukwu Chukwugozie Ajoku, has called on the Federal Government to adopt nuclear energy as a key component of Nigeria’s long-term energy strategy, saying the country must move beyond oil to secure its economic and environmental future.

Speaking on the theme, “Lighting Up the Nation: Moving Beyond Oil with Clean Energy,” Ajoku said Nigeria stands at a decisive moment in its energy history.

Despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, he noted, millions of Nigerians still lack access to reliable electricity while industries and households struggle under the weight of chronic power shortages and costly, polluting generators.

“The truth is undeniable. Our fossil fuel-dependent system is no longer sustainable. Nigeria must embrace low-carbon and clean energy technologies if it hopes to thrive in the global energy transition”, Ajoku stated.

Ajoku, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Ceramic Engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) in the United States, serves as President of the Missouri S&T Council of Graduate Students.

He is also a senior practicing engineer under the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), a member of the American Ceramic Society and the National Society of Black Engineers, and an alumnus of the University of Lagos, where he earned his degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in 2016.

Highlighting nuclear power as a viable solution, Ajoku said the technology offers a reliable, high-capacity, and low-carbon energy source capable of meeting Nigeria’s growing demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He cited the United States as an example, where nuclear power accounts for up to 20 percent of total electricity generation and provides over half of the nation’s emissions-free electricity.

In 2024 alone, U.S. nuclear plants generated about 782 billion kilowatt-hours, enough to power more than 72 million homes, while preventing over 430 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions — the equivalent of taking 95 million cars off the road.

According to him, modern nuclear technologies, particularly molten salt reactors (MSRs), present a safer and more sustainable option for developing nations. Unlike traditional reactors, MSRs operate with liquid fuel salts, passive safety systems, and built-in mechanisms such as freeze plugs that automatically shut down the reactor in case of overheating.

They produce less long-lived radioactive waste and can recycle spent fuel, turning a disposal challenge into a renewable energy opportunity.

Ajoku also underscored the importance of waste management technologies such as vitrification, which transforms radioactive waste into stable glass for long-term storage. He said such innovations make nuclear energy both efficient and environmentally responsible.

With Nigeria’s energy demand projected to more than quadruple by 2030, Ajoku warned that failure to diversify the energy mix could stall industrial growth and deepen economic hardship. He urged the government to adopt a science-driven energy policy that supports nuclear research, local expertise development, and international collaboration.

“Nigeria has the talent and resources to achieve energy independence. What we need now is political will and a long-term vision to invest in transformative technologies. Nuclear innovation, supported by advanced materials research, can turn our energy crisis into a story of national renewal”, he said.

Ajoku called on the government to partner with technologically advanced countries, including the United States, to access expertise, proven reactor technologies, and global safety standards.

Such partnerships, he said, would help build local capacity, create high-skilled jobs, boost industrial growth, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a clean, resilient, and low-carbon economy.