Annett Gunther, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, has revealed that renewable energy can create over 112 million jobs by 2030.
She made this statement in Abuja during a reception organised by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology for a visiting German delegation focused on green hydrogen solutions.
She underscored that the sector had already generated employment opportunities for at least 390,000 individuals in Germany.
According to her, “The hydrogen industry is growing, stimulating economic growth and creating jobs in the process.
“Hydrogen does not only seek to meet the climate change goals but also seeks to feed the population in this part of the world.
“We are on the same page in this partnership on hydrogen and it will be in the interest of both countries.”
The German Government was in partnership with Nigeria to combat climate change and related issues in the country, the German ambassador said.
She added that the perennial floods in parts of Nigeria are a global challenge, aggravated by the climate change phenomenon.
She emphasized that a collective effort is crucial to address the underlying causes of climate change, stressing that a transition to decarbonization and zero emissions is essential to mitigate the issue, not only in Nigeria, but globally.
The ambassador noted that Nigeria has set an ambitious target in its energy transition plan, launched under the previous administration, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
She disclosed, “In our cooperation talks, we are interested in how to help Nigeria achieve that goal.
“We, therefore, have opened a hydrogen diplomacy office called the German-Nigerian hydrogen diplomacy office where experts organise meetings, conferences, and discussions and bring together stakeholders in the area of renewable energies and particularly on hydrogen.
“Even though gas is currently the primary source of energy and power, we have to chart the way forward. We need to have these discussions to reach our climate goals earlier or as soon as possible.”
