The power of networking to drive sustainable energy in Africa

Professor Emeka Oguzie from Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Nigeria is an inspirational academic who has leveraged professional networking to grow his skills and expertise and drive the sustainable energy agenda in Sub-Saharan Africa. We connected with Professor Oguzie to congratulate him on his recent selection as the Battery Ambassador for Nigeria as part of the Faraday Institution’s battery network, and hear more about his work and career.

Professor Oguzie started his academic career as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology Owerri in 1999 and rose through the ranks to full professor in 2013. He has had a long career in Electrochemistry and Materials Science and his current research investigates the development of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries using combined electrochemical and computational techniques. This is based on experience he has acquired over the years, using similar approaches for corrosion research. He is also starting to apply the same approach in investigating solar cells, like dye-sensitized solar cells and perovskite solar cells. This research promotes technology in battery storage capacity and longevity.

Professor Oguzie is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research Development and Innovation and also Centre Leader of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems, ACE-FUELS. He explained the challenge of energy in Nigeria and how his department looks to address this; “Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries are grappling with the challenge of increasing energy demands to reduce poverty and improve human and societal well-being. On the other hand, the global drive towards low carbon emission means that the bulk of the future energies must be from clean and renewable sources. Indeed, there is really no shortage of energy in the sub region, which has an abundance of renewable energy resources (solar, wind, biomass, hydrothermal, clean hydrocarbon). What is lacking is the requisite skilled human resources as well as the technological, educational, physical and economic infrastructures for efficient and inexpensive exploitation of the available resources, to effectively navigate this challenging and complicated transition from the conventional to clean energies. We set up ACE-FUELS precisely to address this challenge, to fill the growing education, skills and information gap in the field of renewable and other clean energy sources within the sub region and in this way address the regional development challenge of poor availability and access to energy.”

He further explained that the ACE-FUELS initiative was conceived with the sole purpose of addressing Africa’s energy challenges, using African resources, by developing African talent. The Centre is funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency. The Centre offers MSc/PhD programmes in 4 core areas, including MSc/PhD Electrochemical Technology and MSc/PhD Future Energies. Batteries are electrochemical devices and the course in Electrochemical Technology provides a ready platform for training, research and capacity building in battery technology. His plan is to get governments and agencies to support this initiative and create a new generation of very competent African experts to drive battery development in Africa.

His recent selection as Battery Ambassador will see him use the opportunity to contribute to mainstream research in contemporary battery technologies and at the same time consider the very specific energy challenges of Nigeria and identify technologies that will address them in an inexpensive and efficient manner, using the abundant natural and human resources, especially the vibrant youth population. He sees that this will require a massive ramping up of training and capacity building initiatives across the region.

Networking has been a significant contributor to Prof Oguzie’s career and he advises young energy sector professionals to; “key into every opportunity for networking, as a strategy to access knowledge, expertise and facilities without boundaries.” explaining how; “most of the experience and expertise I have achieved have come through networks like TWAS, the World Academy of Science, through various fellowships that provided access and availability to advanced research facilities and resources that are unavailable locally. I have extensive collaboration with colleagues in China, Brazil and recently in the UK.” 

The TEA-LP network has also fostered meaningful connection for Professor Oguzie, he shares; “being part of TEA-LP has given us access to the incredible TEA-LP network, which we are already exploiting. One of these is the partnership with The Faraday Institution, which opened the opportunity for this Battery Ambassador position. My participation in the 2024 TEA Forum in Kigali created the opportunity for an ongoing partnership with Swansea University and the TEA@SUNRISE Network, for a joint project already submitted for the Ayrton Challenge.  We are looking out for many other such opportunities.” 

Looking forward, Prof Oguzie sees great opportunity in the energy storage space. He expressed; “I think several innovations are coming up in energy storage, but I favour innovations focused on sustainability and costs, as is possible with sodium-ion batteries. TEA-LP should focus on driving a culture of battery research in participating institutions. One major challenge is with costs of facilities for battery research, which can be overcome by setting up centers or clusters of excellence in battery research, each with specific research focus and facilities to undertake such research. TEA-LP should also support collaborations with UK institutions with well-established battery research groups. This existing collaboration with The Faraday Institution is very relevant and timely in this regard.” 

Our chat with Professor Oguzie highlighted how professional networking and seizing opportunities drives innovation and supports personal career development. His academic journey is truly inspirational, and it is an honour to have him part of the TEA-LP network.