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Africa Has Potential for Green Hydrogen—Okonjo-Iweala

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Green Hydrogen Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has advised African leaders to make use of the continent’s solar resources to provide clean electricity to its people.

In a chat with CNN, she suggested that microgrids could be easily installed in rural areas to supply electricity to the people.

Despite possessing 60 per cent of the world’s solar resources, Africa only accounts for 1 per cent of the world’s total solar panel capacity, according to the 2022 Africa Energy Outlook by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

“Africa has these critical minerals, lithium, you name it, all of them. We also have the potential for green hydrogen. Kenya is 95% clean energy. Many African countries have that potential. Put the two together. You can use clean energy to produce some of these critical minerals.

“You can have these many micro-grids that can be more easily installed in rural areas and give our people access to light.

“So, let’s do that and that will take care of a large requirement. Now we come to industry, and we do have a right to industrialise.

“So, there we have this issue. That’s why we say that to some of our developing countries, let’s not be hypocritical.

“We will need a transition where gas is better than oil. Let’s use that until we have more new technology that can help us with cleaner energy,” the WTO chief said.

The Head of Unit for Tracking Sustainable Transitions at IEA, Mr Daniel Wetzel, identified financing as the major problem with the continent.

“The major challenge for investment in Africa is financing. In Africa the cost to finance a solar project, the same size solar project that would be built in Europe costs three to four times more just because of the returns that are expected on financing because of the higher risks,” he submitted.

But a few companies are looking into this and one of them is ARTsolar, which boasts a state-of-the-art production facility in Durban.

“Effectively, we make 1,760 solar panels a day at peak capacity. We can reduce breakages, and increase efficiency in terms of production and cycle times in the various stages of manufacturing, and that is how AI is being used in the manufacturing process.

“A big consumer of ours is Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia. We are also supplying into Mauritius right now.

In Nigeria… we’ve supplied into Nigeria for the last 10 years. We’re involved in the street lighting programs,” its General Manager, Viren Gosai, said.

In sub-Saharan Africa, in 2019, 25 million Africans had home solar systems, and in 2022, 45 million had the systems installed, providing 4 electricity to African households.

Kenya’s Sun King Solar, is a world leader in off-grid solar systems, though its Vice President for Pay-As-You-Go in East and Southern Africa, Mr Victor Agandi, said, “We are currently in nine countries. We have Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, that’s East Africa.

“We have Mozambique, Malawi, Cameroon, Togo, and of course, Nigeria. We have over 79 stores in Nigeria with I think almost two million households right now installed in Nigeria.”

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Pastor Ogbueli’s Abuja Night of Glory Holds Today

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Abuja Night of Glory

By Blaise Udunze

Momentum is gathering for the Abuja Night of Glory taking place today, Friday, December 5, 2025, at the main bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The crusade is being hosted by Dominion City Church headed by Pastor David Ogbueli and it starts by 7pm.

The all-night programme will feature dynamic worship leaders like Nathanial Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Theophilus Sunday, Chioma Jesus, Kaestrings, Sunmisola Agbebi Okeleye, Minister GUC, Ebuka Songs, Anthony Kani, and DC Angels.

Reputed as a teacher of righteousness and anointed minister of the gospel, evidenced by the miracles that have trailed his ministry, and one who champions the cause of the poor through empowerment initiatives, Dr. David Ogbueli will be joined by renowned ministers from within and outside Nigeria, including Evangelist Andres Bisonni, Dr. Charles Ndifon, Evangelist Dan Scott, Apostle Ikechukwu Nnajiofor, and several others.

Night of Glory has, in previous editions held across Nigeria’s cities, recorded remarkable results, such as immediate healings and freedom from chronic ailments, recovery of vision and movement after many years of paralysis, along with liberation from dependencies and emotional distress. Numerous participants have also shared testimonies of breakthroughs and big personal changes after the experience. Organisers state that this year’s event, in Abuja, is anticipated to exceed previous editions.

The event is intended for all individuals trusting God for divine intervention in any area of life.

Understanding the role of faith in the destiny of individuals and nations, a dedicated prayer session for Nigeria will take place during the crusade to tackle some of the current challenges being faced in the country and also to uplift he leaders and institutions before God.

Attendance is free, and registration is encouraged via the QR codes on event banners. Organisers expect a massive turnout as worshippers travel from across the country for what is anticipated to be a transformative encounter.

Adequate security and free transportation have been put in place ALL over the city of Abuja, while those outside Abuja are expected to join online.

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Rivers Speaker, 15 Other Lawmakers Leave PDP for APC

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rivers speaker Martin Amaewhule defect

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Martin Amaewhule, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At the plenary on Friday, Mr Amaewhule joined the ruling party from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with 15 other members of the state parliament.

This development comes some months after they had earlier declared their support for the APC in the wake of a crisis with the state governor, Mr Sim Fubura.

The lawmakers had an issue with Mr Fubura, which led to a state of emergency declared on the oil-rich state by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025.

This embargo was only lift in September 2025 after the duration of the six-month emergency rule in the state.

A few days ago, members of the Rivers Assembly passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu, backing him to remain in office till 2031, when he would have spent eight years in office if re-elected in 2027.

Announcing their defection today, the lawmakers pinned their decision on the crisis rocking the PDP at the national level.

It is not certain if their political godfather, Mr Nyesom Wike, who is the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will join them in APC.

Mr Wike, who governed Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, has been accused of instigating the crisis in the opposition PDP. He was expelled from the party last month at a national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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Nigeria Risks Brain Drain in Energy Sector—PENGASSAN

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energy sector

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned that Nigeria risks massive brain drain in the oil and gas sector due to poor remuneration.

The president of PENGASSAN, Mr Festus Osifo, said at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union on Thursday in Abuja that the industry was facing challenges arising from Naira devaluation and inflation, noting that, oil and gas skills remained globally competitive.

Painting an example, he said, “A drilling engineer in Nigeria does the same job as one in the US or Abu Dhabi,” noting that the union must take steps to bridge the wage gap to prevent members from leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.

“If we don’t act, the brain drain seen in other sectors will be child’s play,” he said.

According to him, PENGASSAN has recorded significant gains through collective bargaining across oil and gas branches.

“We signed numerous agreements across government agencies, IOCs, service and marketing sectors,” he said.

He said the agreements brought relief to members facing rising costs of living, adding that, the association’s duty is to protect members’ jobs and enhance their pay.

Mr Osifo urged companies delaying salary reviews and those foot-dragging as a result of the prevailing economic realities, to do the needful.

He said the industry employed some of the nation’s best talents, making competitive pay critical to retaining skilled workers.

“This industry recruits the best. Companies must provide the best conditions,” he said.

On insecurity, Mr Osifo urged government to take decisive action against terrorism and kidnappings across the country.

“We are tired of condemnations. government must expose sponsors and protect citizens,” he said.

He urged government at all levels to prioritise tackling insecurity through better funding and equipment for security agencies.

Mr Osifo said PENGASSAN supported calls for state police to improve local security response, adding that decentralising policing will protect citizens better than rhetoric.

He also said economic indicators meant little, if food prices remained high and farmers could not return to farms due to insecurity.

“Nigerians want to see food on the table, not macroeconomic figures,” he said, urging the government to coordinate fiscal and monetary policies to ensure economic gains reach households.

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