In a time when Africa is grappling with urgent questions around energy access, youth innovation, and sustainable development, a new generation of thinkers is stepping forward with bold ideas and practical solutions.

In this edition of  Etạ Interviews, we speak with Ada Eze osakwe, a researcher and advocate focused on renewable energy and climate innovation, whose work explores the intersection of energy systems, technological advancement, and Africa’s development future.

From firsthand experiences with Nigeria’s energy challenges to a growing commitment to building solutions through research, youth engagement, and cross-sector collaboration, Ada Eze represents a rising voice in the continent’s sustainability conversation.

In this conversation, she shares what inspired her journey into renewable energy, the opportunities she sees for young Africans, and the systemic changes needed to accelerate the adoption of clean and reliable energy across Nigeria and beyond.

Q1. What inspired you to focus your research on green and renewable energy, and why do you believe this field is particularly important for Africa’s future?

Answer:

Energy is the foundation of modern civilization. Every major technological advancement, from artificial intelligence and healthcare to manufacturing, agriculture and education, depends on reliable electricity. Without energy, development slows down.

Growing up in Nigeria, I witnessed firsthand how inconsistent electricity affects businesses, education, healthcare, and everyday life. I realized that many of Africa’s greatest challenges are connected to one fundamental issue: access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. That realization inspired my research into renewable energy and advanced power generation technologies.

Africa is home to one of the world’s youngest populations and possesses enormous renewable energy resources, particularly solar, wind and hydro. Yet millions of people still lack reliable electricity.

Some statistics illustrate the scale of the challenge:

• Around 600 million people in Africa still lack access to electricity, representing about 80% of the global population without electricity.
• According to the International Energy Agency, Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s largest electricity access gap.
• The World Bank estimates that unreliable electricity costs many African economies 2–4% of GDP annually through reduced productivity, damaged equipment, and lost business opportunities.
• Studies by the African Development Bank have consistently shown that inadequate power infrastructure is one of the biggest constraints on industrialization and economic growth across the continent.

Renewable energy is therefore not just an environmental solution; it is an economic solution. It has the potential to power industries, improve education and healthcare, create millions of jobs, and unlock Africa’s full innovative potential. I believe Africa’s future will be defined not by the resources beneath our soil, but by the energy systems we build above it.

Q2. Your Youth Renewable Energy Training and Conference is empowering young people through free practical training. What specific skills and opportunities can participants expect to gain, and how do you see these transforming their lives and communities?

Answer:

One misconception I strongly disagree with is that Nigerian youths lack talent. We don’t lack intelligence, we lack opportunities.

Our programme, From Fundamentals to Frontier Technologies, is designed to bridge that gap.

Participants won’t simply learn about renewable energy; they’ll learn how to identify problems, think like innovators, and build practical solutions. We want to shift young people from simply consuming technology to creating it.

Throughout the programme, participants will gain:

• Practical knowledge of renewable energy and emerging technologies.
• Engineering design thinking and structured problem-solving.
• Exposure to innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization.
• Mentorship from experienced professionals and industry leaders.
• Teamwork, leadership and project development skills.
• Opportunities to network with researchers, investors and organisations.

The conference is only the beginning.

After the main training on 15 July, participants will continue through seven structured mentorship sessions over the following weeks. During this period, they will work in teams to identify real-world challenges within five focus areas, develop innovative solutions, and refine those ideas with guidance from mentors.

The programme concludes with a conference where participants present their projects before stakeholders from government, academia and industry. Our goal is not simply to teach young people but to position them where opportunities can find them.

If even a small percentage of these ideas become successful startups, research projects or community solutions, their impact will extend far beyond the individuals involved; it will transform communities and inspire even more young innovators.

Q3. Many young Africans are interested in sustainability but don’t know where to begin. What advice would you give to students and young professionals who want to build careers or conduct research in renewable energy and climate innovation?

Answer:

My advice is simple:

Start early, but more importantly, start right.

Many people wait until they feel completely ready before they begin. In reality, excellence is built through consistent learning and practical experience.

First, build a strong technical foundation. Learn the science behind renewable energy, climate technology, engineering, data analysis, policy, or whichever area interests you.

Second, solve real problems. Don’t learn simply to earn certificates; learn to create solutions that improve people’s lives.

Third, build relationships. Your network is often as valuable as your knowledge. Connect with researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, investors and organisations. Many opportunities come through collaboration.

Fourth, remain curious. Renewable energy is evolving rapidly. Artificial intelligence, smart grids, battery storage, green hydrogen and advanced materials are reshaping the industry. Lifelong learning will be essential.

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of small beginnings. Many of today’s global innovators started with simple ideas and limited resources. What separated them was consistency, resilience and the willingness to keep improving.

Africa does not need more spectators; it needs more builders.

Q4. As someone actively promoting renewable energy through research and youth engagement, what are some of the biggest challenges slowing the adoption of renewable energy in Nigeria, and what practical solutions do you believe can help overcome them?

Answer:

Nigeria has enormous renewable energy potential, but several barriers continue to slow adoption.

The first challenge is access to funding. Many brilliant innovators and researchers have promising ideas but lack the capital needed to develop prototypes, conduct testing, or commercialize their technologies. I have personally experienced this challenge while developing my own research projects.

The second challenge is the gap between research and industry. Universities produce talented graduates, yet many innovations never leave the laboratory because there are limited pathways to commercialization.

Third, policy implementation must continue to improve. Nigeria has made progress through renewable energy initiatives, but consistent implementation, regulatory certainty and long-term investment incentives are essential to encourage both local and international investors.

Finally, there is the challenge of skills development. We need to train more engineers, technicians, entrepreneurs and researchers who can design, install and maintain renewable energy systems.

The solutions require collaboration.

Governments should continue creating policies that encourage innovation and investment. Universities should strengthen partnerships with industry. Private companies should invest more in young innovators through grants, incubation programmes and research partnerships. International collaboration can also accelerate technology transfer and provide access to advanced research facilities.

Personally, I am actively building international partnerships because innovation thrives through collaboration. My vision is to combine global expertise with local talent to develop technologies that solve African energy challenges.

Ultimately, Africa’s energy future will not be transformed by one inventor or one institution. It will be transformed when governments, universities, businesses and young innovators work together with a shared vision. That’s exactly the kind of ecosystem I’m committed to helping build.