16th September, 2014
Dr Kandeh Yumkela, Special Representative and Chief Executive of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative of the United Nations, said reliable energy was critical to sustainable development in Africa.
Yumkela said this on Monday in Abuja at the Bamanga Tukur International Legacy lecture series. According to him, the value of energy on the African continent cannot be underestimated.
He said that cheap, affordable and sustainable energy was critical to drive the economy of the African continent.
Yumkela stressed the need for good political leadership that would evolve policies to reform energy system across the continent.
This, he added, would evolve the right institutions and investment in infrastructure that would be long lasting.
He said Africa had lots of energy resources which could be effectively utilised if the right political leadership was in place to evolve corresponding policies.
Yumkela emphasised the need for Africa to have a stake in the climate change discussion because its worse impact was on the continent.
“The worse impact of the climate change is on Africa more than any other region in the world. When we talk about 5.3 per cent increase in temperature globally, each degree rise will be about 1.5 per cent in Africa.
“So Africa must care about how others use and produce energy; Africa must care about climate change because we will suffer the most for what we did not create,” he said.
According to him, the continent has become hotter, losing 50 per cent of its crop yields.
“The country is now experiencing more flood and more draught, while it only accounts for less than three per cent of cooking house gas,” he said.
Yumkela said it was in the interest of Africa that others were producing and using energy perfectively, the continent should take advantage of the new and existing technology to ensure energy access.
“This has become necessary to grow economy and eradicate poverty on the continent because over 600 million Africans do not have access to electricity.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria could become the Brazil of Africa if its enormous mineral recourses were effectively utilised.
“There is no other country in Africa that has the same potential like Brazil than Nigeria,” he said.
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, former National Chairman of the PDP who turned 79, said that the essence of the lecture was to build capacity for sustainable development and trade.
The lecture, held under the auspices of the Bamanga Tukur Africa Institution for International Trade and Development, is expected to hold in China, United Kingdom and Ghana at a later date.