Stop using
electricity for cooking – Sambo
T |
he Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abubakar S. Sambo, has warned against the use of electricity for cooking, arguing that the “best and cleanest energy for cooking is gas”.
Prof. Sambo, who
is a former Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU),
Bauchi, gave this disclosure last Tuesday (February 2, 2010) at a programme
organised in his honour by the National Centre for Hydropower Research and Development,
(NACHRED),
According to the Professor of Engineering, Nigerians should use gas for cooking because gas does not contribute much to global warming. However, electricity, which is a product of hydropower energy, has debilitating effects on climate and increases global warming when converted to heat.
The Director-General, who was conducted round the facilities on ground at the Centre, expressed his satisfaction with the judicious use of the grant given to NACHRED. He pledged that his Commission, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, would continue to give its support to the Centre as at when due.
While regretting
that he could not personally attend the official commissioning of the Centre
last year as a result of an official assignment he was asked to do outside the
country at the time, Prof. Sambo averred that hydropower research and
technology holds vast potentials in evolving lasting solutions to the sundry
energy problems confronting
Speaking further, Prof. Sambo said it would be good if N
Speaking further, Prof. Sambo said it would be good if NACHRED could do a proper survey of rich areas in biofuels and alternative energy in the country. He especially noted the Mambilla area of
Earlier in his speech, the Director of NACHRED, Prof. Bolaji F. Sule, gave a brief historical background of the Centre, observing that the building the Centre occupies used to be the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health of the University. He said the renovation of the building began in February 2009 and by July, it had reached a significant stage which made the commissioning successful in August.
The Director, who is a Professor of Civil Engineering, said since the Centre started full operations with a staff strength of 20, including 15 research associates, progress has been made steadily and the mandate of the Centre is being progressively achieved. He said his Centre had received nine proposals in different research areas and six of the researches have received funding provided by the Centre.
Prof. Sule, who is a former Dean of Engineering and Technology at the University, unfolded the plan of NACHRED to introduce a Postgraduate Diploma in Hydropower Technology, the process of which he said would soon commence. The postgraduate programme, he noted, would provide the necessary training for prospective hydropower energy professionals and build capacity at a higher level.
Highlights of the occasion included the presentation of gifts to the Director-General and his delegation, comprising the Assistant Director of the Commission, Mr. Ayodele Omowumi, and the Deputy Director, Finance, Mr. Peter Chigbo.
Joining the NACHRED Director to receive the Director-General at the occasion were the Secretary to the Centre, Mrs. Yemisi Adeoye, and the Controller of Finance, Mr. Saka Onaolapo.