On Thursday, as the 2024 edition of the Energy, Water and Internet of Things (IoT) Expo came to a close in Lagos, participants agreed that the show is a catalyst for a renaissance of the energy sector in the West African region. The three-day event, held at the Landmark Centre on Victoria Island in Lagos, featured a conference titled “Way Forward” attended by over 50 industry leaders.
Some participants shared their insights with the media. Dr. Bala Tyoden, Deputy Director of the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency, praised the exhibition for bringing together stakeholders from different sectors to collaborate and share knowledge. He urged the organizers to continue to expand the event annually. “Nigeria faces major challenges in the areas of water and energy. This exhibition is a great eye-opener for stakeholders and I hope everyone will participate,” said Dr. Tyoden.
“There is a huge connection between energy, water and consumption and this forum brings together stakeholders who are willing and eager to contribute to national development. I am referring to private sector players. Therefore, this forum is a great platform that can be leveraged,” added Dr. Tyoden.
Olajide Aminu Ibrahim, Huawei’s country sales director, highlighted the potential of stimulating growth in the power sector through renewable energy. “Nigerians must embrace renewable energy. That is the way forward; in my home, my children never experience power cuts because we use solar energy. If we want to improve this economy, we have to look at off-grid energy. We don’t pay for the sun, so why can’t we harness it as a source of energy for ourselves? This exhibition is not only timely but also important for the growth of the industry,” he said.
Shitij Taneja, managing director of Vertex Group, the company organising the show, stressed the importance of exploring greener and more sustainable sources of energy, given the challenges associated with power supply and distribution in Nigeria. “There are a lot of investors coming to this show, especially from the technology and energy sectors. It is also about how to implement solar energy effectively. This show covers everything from power backup in homes to the importance of renewable energy in general,” said Taneja.
“In the technology sector, around seventy billion dollars have been invested in startups in Africa over the last year, and it is a challenge to close that gap as soon as possible. In the energy sector, it is also a substantial figure. Nigeria has the sufficient population and this exhibition will be of great importance to the country, with over 75 exhibitors from solar energy, clean energy, energy efficiency and water. There is a mix of players from the energy sector here. There are also players from the water sector, and it is a very large exhibition at the moment,” Taneja continued.
“We have created this programme to explore the benefits of technology and other related value chains. We activate energy-saving devices that will enable efficient use of energy,” Taneja concluded.
