By Giwa SHILE
Some beneficiaries of solar design and installation training of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) on Tuesday urged the agency to sustain the training programme.
They made the call in separate in Abuja.
They said that the training had assisted them to understand the production, installation and maintenance of solar systems for homes and offices.
It will be recalled that NASENI in July organised a two-week training programme on solar installation and maintenance for 40 unemployed trainees, drawn from across the country.
The training was in collaboration with Cornell University, U.S., Orun Ododo Power Company and the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.
Miss Lois David, an Electrical Electronics Engineering student, University of Port Harcourt, said that sustaining the training would help the country to pursue solar energy as one of the best options of power system infrastructure.
She said that training more people would provide the country with the needed rapid, sustainable and easily deployable technologies that would produce maximum and responsive results.
David, however, said that aside receiving the training, there was need for participants to have start up funds to put the knowledge into practice.
She added that “due to paucity of funds, it has become difficult for some of us who received training in solar system design and installation to put the knowledge to use.
“Since after the training, however, I have been making efforts to train other people.”
Mr Ige Olusola, who also benefitted from the NASENI solar training, said that rather than exploring the option of establishing companies, many of them were relying on solar campanies.
He said “organisers of such training should have facilitated means of raising startup funds for beneficiaries.
‘‘With availability of funds, it would be an opportunity not only to know how to empower myself but render community service.”
Mr Ignatius Ubawike, who uses solar energy for home appliances, says there is need for increased production of solar energy appliances in the country to reduce cost.
Ubawike said ‘‘solar being a clean energy remains one of the best options; it is environmentally friendly and can provide the needed energy to boost commercial activities in the country.’
