Written By Daniel Karlmax; Edited By Godwin Duru
In a bid to promote inclusion, technological innovation and sustainable development in Nigeria, Our Hope-Village Foundation has trained a selected group of young ladies in solar power installation, equipping them with practical skills to become self-reliant while contributing to socio-economic growth.
The training, held in Kaduna under the theme “Tech Her Future,” was organised in partnership with Nixis Tech Academy and focused on empowering girls to explore opportunities in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector.
Speaking during the maiden edition of the programme, the Executive Director of Our Hope-Village Foundation, Mrs. Omowunmi Sebiotimo said the initiative was driven by a passion to break barriers limiting women and girls from fully participating in technology-related fields.
According to her, the programme was designed to expose participants to the realities and opportunities within the solar energy industry, while equipping them with the technical and entrepreneurial skills needed to succeed.
“The vision behind this initiative is passion-driven. Too often, women restrict themselves to certain roles, yet the world offers enormous opportunities. Across the globe, women are thriving in diverse sectors, including technology, and we want our girls to be part of that success story.
“You and I know that power supply remains one of the major challenges in our society. Solar energy provides an alternative solution, and these young women have acquired the skills needed to excel in this field.
“They have been equipped not only with knowledge but also with the tools and confidence required to succeed in the industry,” she said.
She further disclosed that the foundation has developed a sustainability framework to ensure beneficiaries continue learning beyond the classroom.
According to her, participants have been integrated into a mentorship and support network where they can access guidance, research materials, knowledge-sharing opportunities and practical field experience.
“We don’t want the training to end here. The beneficiaries now belong to a forum managed by our consultants where learning continues. They are also welcome to return to the academy at any time, Omowunmi added.
The training consultant and Founder of Nixis Tech Academy, Engineer Yemi Sebiotimo described the renewable energy sector as one of the most promising industries in Nigeria, especially given the country’s persistent electricity challenges.
He assured the trainees of continuous support from the academy even after completing the programme.
“There is massive opportunity in the solar energy sector. With the instability of the national grid, the demand for alternative power solutions continues to grow. This creates enormous prospects for skilled professionals.
“We support them in system design, entrepreneurship and installation projects. Whenever they encounter challenges, they can always return for guidance at no additional cost,” he stated.
He explained that the training covered solar power generation, system components, load assessment, energy audits, troubleshooting, equipment sizing, safety procedures, maintenance and business development.
“Our vision aligns perfectly. While the foundation is focused on empowering young minds, we believe in helping people learn to earn.”
One of the participants, Joan Ayuba, said she gained practical knowledge of solar installation processes, equipment handling and power management.
“We learned the basics of solar installation, system components and the step-by-step process involved in setting up solar power systems. It has given me confidence to pursue opportunities in the sector,” she said.
Other participants, including Faith Arenze and Faith Yusuf, expressed determination to build careers in solar installation, maintenance, consultancy and entrepreneurship.