,,,,,Don urges strategic investments as global shift to alternative energy accelerates
By Correspondent in Ilorin.
As the global transition from fossil fuels gathers pace, a renowned scholar has warned that Nigeria may miss the economic opportunities of a post-oil future unless it urgently repositions its economy through strategic investments and national reorientation.
Delivering the 19th inaugural lecture at Kwara State University (KWASU), Professor Olusola Oladele James, an expert in Physical Chemistry, urged Nigerian policymakers to learn from oil-rich nations like the UAE that have used petroleum revenues to build diversified, resilient economies.
“Nigeria must make hay while the sun shines. Petroleum is a finite resource. We cannot afford to waste our remaining oil wealth without investing in the future,”Professor Oladele said in his lecture titled “Energy Transition Crisis, Relapse Cycles and Twilights of Petroleum Era.”
He emphasized that the global transition to alternative energy sources,such as solar and electric-based fuels,is being driven not just by climate concerns but by economic necessity.
“Affordability and market dynamics will determine the pace of change, not just environmental sentiment,” he said.
While oil remains a key driver of global growth, he warned that the window for Nigeria to capitalize on it is closing. “Developed nations are still scrambling for growth powered by oil. But we must not be deceived,change is coming, and it is accelerating.”
Looking ahead to the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil, Professor Oladele cautioned against excessive optimism about global climate deals.
“Past COPs have produced more rhetoric than results. The reality is that the world cannot yet fully decouple from oil,but that day is coming.”
He called for a national mindset shift regarding petroleum consumption, saying;“We must debunk the myth that oil is cheap or infinite. Wasteful use of oil must stop—by government, businesses, and individuals alike.”
Professor Oladele praised KWASU for taking proactive steps through its UNESCO Chair on Alternative Energy, which led to the creation of the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
Our correspondent reports that the Centre currently powers part of the university using solar energy.
He recommended that the institution adopt a distributed solar model,rather than a centralized one,to improve efficiency and system resilience.
The views of some of the guests at the occasion is that, the lecture served as a timely economic and political call-to-action.
They reminded Nigeria of the urgent need to diversify its revenue base, invest in alternative energy, and prepare for an era where oil may no longer underpin national survival.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
