Dr. Nelson Omenugha, the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, graciously welcomed a delegation from the Solar Hands-on Training and International Network of Exchange (SHINE) at his office in the Government House on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. SHINE, a capacity-building project sponsored by the European Union Commission, aims to empower individuals in the field of renewable energy, specifically solar energy. The delegation, led by Rev. Father Christopher Anso, the director of Jobitech, expressed their gratitude to Dr. Nelson for accommodating their visit on short notice.
Rev. Father Anso highlighted the importance of the project, which involves ten partners from various countries working together to promote renewable energy. The collaboration seeks to enhance skills and knowledge in the field of solar energy, ultimately contributing to sustainable development.
The team includes Sergio Lagarde, a capacity-building expert working with Mundus in Spain, who expressed great enthusiasm for the project and the significant value it can bring to strengthening the local economy. Santo Astorumo, also a member of the team, hails from Italy but works with Mundus in Spain, specializing in capacity building and entrepreneurship. Additionally, Juan Cadin Dusin, an electrical engineer, entrepreneur, and wind energy expert, shared insights from his experience, emphasizing the importance of combining education with practical application for optimal results. Dusin highlighted the common lack of practical aspects in education and pledged to dedicate himself to coaching more trainers and students.
The team consists of experts from Ghana, Uganda, and Nigeria. Kojo Adu, from Ghana, collaborates with a government agency on Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET), which was established two years ago and is housed within the Ministry of Education. Enoch Fsabirye and Bua Leone are from Uganda. Enoch is affiliated with the Huys Link Community Initiative, while Bua works with the Ministry of Education in Uganda. Victoria Manga, a Nigerian doctoral researcher at Leiden University in the Netherlands, specializes in economics, geography, and policy development. Her focus is on systematizing capacity building for youth, making her a valuable asset to the team.
Ultimately, the team committed to providing training to every young person in Anambra who is interested in learning about renewable energy. Dr. Nelson Omenugha responded by praising the group and highlighting the Anambra State Government’s dedication to supporting the development of young people. He stated that Governor Soludo’s administration is eager to collaborate on the project as long as the beneficiaries are from Anambra.
The SHINE project is a collaborative effort between Europe and Africa, bringing together key stakeholders to empower young Africans with knowledge of solar technology. Dr. Omenugha generously gifted each team member a copy of his book, “Partners in Nation Building,” as a token of appreciation.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
