Harvard and Oxford-trained scholar, Damilola Sunday Olawuyi,
is a globally recognised professor of Energy and Environmental Law
and director of the leading research think tank, the Institute for
Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES
Institute) at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. He is Vice
President of the Nigerian branch of the International Law
Association; member of the World Commission on International
Environmental Law; and expert member of the International Law
Association Committee on Sustainable Natural Resource Development
where he represents Nigeria. He served as visiting professor at
Columbia University, Oxford University and the China University of
Political Science and Law. He has several publications in leading
international law journals on the subject of renewable energy,
agriculture, climate change and sustainable development. In this
interview with the Yetunde Ayobami Ojo, he says government should
urgently develop the country’s enormous renewable energy
potential.
Nigeria, like many oil producing countries, is still
reeling from the impact of the drop in the prices of oil. Will the
oil and gas sector ever fully recover?
Unlike many that have written and published the obituary of the oil
and gas industry, we professionals in the field know that the
future of the sector remains exceedingly bright. The industry has
been through, and survived, similar periodic downturns in the past,
ranging from the 1973 oil crisis (first oil shock) in which the
price of oil increased 400 per cent, leading to scarcity in some
countries; then the 1979 oil shock when prices increased 100 per
cent and the third oil crisis in 1990s, which contributed to global
economic recession of the early 1990s and the most recent one.
This recent downturn has hit all of us hard due to failure to
government’s properly utilise proceeds of the glorious years, when
oil sold over $100 per barrel, to develop our infrastructure and to
vitalise other key sectors. I have worked in the oil and gas
countries in the Middle East such as, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, and
they are, for example, not in recession as we speak, due to years
of proper utilisation of oil proceeds. For an oil and gas giant
like Nigeria to ever be in recession is a great shame.
The US shale boom is another potential game changer, which has,
and will continue to alter the demand for our oil and nudge us to
an uncertain future outlook. The International Energy Agency (IEA)
has for example predicted that the United States would overtake
Saudi Arabia to become the world’s leading oil producer by 2020
and, together with Canada, would become a net exporter of oil
around 2030. These are tough predictions for Nigeria, as our main
oil customer will itself become a leading supplier. This is why
this is the time for Nigeria to start diversifying its economic
base to shift to mining, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.
This is what Qatar and a number of the Middle East giants are
investing time and resources on, in order to stay ahead in the face
of a changing energy outlook.
As we speak, I am currently leading a funded research project
for the government of Qatar on this issue of low carbon energy
transition. These are smart oil and gas producing countries that
have accelerated their paths to energy and economic
diversification. Wide scale economic diversification is the key for
Nigeria to remain strong and competitive in the league of frontier
energy jurisdictions.
What do you think is the most important step in
diversifying the Nigerian economy at this challenging
time?
Nigeria is very rich in energy. We only tend to focus excessively
on oil and gas. Nigeria has strong comparative strengths in
renewable energy, an area that the Nigerian Government has yet to
fully develop.
Over the last five years, renewable energy has gained global
prominence as the new oil and gas. Last year alone, worldwide
investments in renewable energy amounted to more than US$214
billion with countries such as, Canada, China and the United States
heavily investing in wind, hydro, solar and biofuel infrastructure
projects. Apart from private sector investments, the United
Nations, World Bank, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA),
and other development agencies have established special Clean Funds
through which governments at federal and state levels can access
funds to develop renewable energy projects ranging from conversion
of biomass or waste to energy; biofuels from agriculture;
geothermal, mini-hydro, solar and wind energy projects. Renewable
energy projects funded under this platform focus on ways to reduce
energy poverty; generate clean jobs; and produce sustainable and
renewable energy in developing countries. They can also be the key
to solving Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
Nigeria’s potentials as a significant source of renewable energy
have never been in doubt. From the water intensity of the Osun
River in my home state, Osun; to the expanse hectares of arable
land in many parts of Nigeria; and the sunshine intensity in the
North, have led to several scientific conclusions that Nigeria
could be one of the richest countries on earth in terms of solar,
wind and hydro energy. Unlike oil and gas, these are clean, cheap,
inexhaustible sources of electricity, meaning they never end. They
also come with less environmental problems such as pollution or
spillage.
Nigeria has infinite potentials to be the leader in renewable
energy sources in Africa. Renewable energy can directly contribute
to poverty alleviation programs by attracting international
development funds for renewable energy projects; boosting
internally generated revenue by attracting global and public
private partnership investments in renewable energy projects;
creating new energy jobs for youths; providing alternative energy
supply for businesses; and deploying clean cooking stoves and
household stand- alone solar solutions in rural communities.
Given these enormous economic advantages of renewable
and alternative energy, how can government move this
forward?
One key problem we have in this area is lack of sustained policy
action by successive governments. On May 05, 2015, the Federal
Government of Nigeria officially adopted the National Policy on
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which aims to increase
renewable energy investments to generate electricity and to address
climate change problems. The policy also aimed to establish a
federal agency on renewable energy like many other countries in the
world have done. However, this program was launched in the last few
weeks of former President Goodluck Jonathan administration. Since
2015, not much has been heard about the renewable energy programme.
I have personally been leading scholarly agenda aimed at getting
the current government to revisit this lofty energy diversification
and electricity generation program.
In 2015, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola, invited me to help develop a policy programme that
could help Osun State attain leadership in implementing a robust
renewable energy and energy efficiency program over the next
decade. However, this unfortunately coincided with the time our
State had problems with protesting workers so we had to halt this
plan. I do hope to revisit this ambitious plan in the future at
State and Federal levels. For example, if well developed, we could
generate electricity from solar, hydro and wind sources, making it
possible for each state to be self sufficient in terms of
generating adequate amount of electricity for domestic and
industrial use.
How serious do you think Nigeria is in addressing the
issue of Climate change?
Nigeria will need to move from bureaucratic rhetoric to more
concrete and holistic action to address climate change. In the
Paris Agreement, Nigeria pledged to reduce its GHG emissions by 20
per cent by 2020 and 45 per cent by 2030. These are ambitious
targets, which on the ground, we have done little in terms of laws,
institutions and policies to actualise.
As of today, we have no climate change law, no climate change
federal agency and no national action plan on GHG reduction. I was
personally excited when the current government appointed the
immediate past Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, as Minister
for Environment. However, she had to leave to become the United
Nations Deputy Secretary General.
We need to revisit some of the lofty blue prints she developed
on climate change mitigation and adaptation in Nigeria. The
environment is too serious an issue to be left at the periphery of
decision-making. Climate change should not be viewed as a threat
alone, it is also a great economic opportunity for Nigeria to
develop a green economy that encourages new jobs in recycling,
waste management, green buildings and clean transportation. We can
get there. We only need to start first.
How can you assess Nigeria’s readiness to achieve the
SDGs?
As you rightly noted, on September 25, 2015, countries, including
Nigeria, adopted a set of targets and goals to end poverty, protect
the planet, and ensure prosperity for all, over the next 15 years.
In other words, by the year 2030, the plan is that our world will
be on the path of comparable and holistic social, economic and
environmental development.
For these ambitious goals to be reached, we must ask, how can we
avoid the same pitfalls and mistakes that made it impossible for us
to attain the MDGs that expired in 2015. Everyone needs to do their
part: governments, the private sector, civil society and people
like you and I, to avoid the same false start. As of today, Nigeria
has not done much to correct the same pitfalls, which centre on
lack of sustained governmental action to pursue the sustainable
development agenda.
By attaining the rank of full professor of law in 2015
at the age of 32, you became one of the youngest law professors in
Nigeria, what are the challenges you faced in achieving that
feat?
Well, I am humbled and honoured to follow the remarkable path of
Nigeria’s current Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo. SAN who
I understand also attained full professorship at the age of 33. I
am very fortunate to have tapped into the visions of the President
and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe
Babalola, SAN, OFR, LL.D, CON, who is well known to be one of the
most successful lawyers in Nigeria’s history and a leading advocate
for university reform. Working closely with him challenged me to be
the best in my teaching and research. Babalola’s accomplishments,
from very humble beginnings, is enough motivation for every one
associated with ABUAD to push for the greatest heights, break
existing records and set new ones. The university and college of
law provided the right atmosphere and resources for me to achieve
this feat. Without the support and best wishes of everyone, ranging
from the president and founder of the university, to the senior
management of the university, the DVC and provost of the College of
Law, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, to my head of department, and my
students, this attainment would have been highly impossible. I
faced no barrier; all I saw was motivation, encouragements and
opportunities.
You are an alumnus of the Harvard and Oxford University,
how did you achieve these?
I owe these achievements to the divine grace of God. How else could
a young lad from Igbajo, Osun State, end up at these famous
institutions? After achieving first class honours from the
university, and another first class from the Nigerian Law School, I
was double charged to follow the paths of the likes of ILA
President, Professor Fidelis Oditah, QC, SAN who after making first
class degrees from UNILAG and the Law School, also got scholarships
to study at Oxford. Luckily, I was still at the Law School when I
received a full scholarship from the Government of Canada to pursue
LL.M in energy law at the University of Calgary in Canada.
From Calgary, I received another full scholarship to go to
Harvard University for another LL.M, and while still at Harvard, I
received the prestigious Clarendon Scholarship and the Queen’s
Overseas Research Scholarship to study for a PhD at Oxford
University. After this, I was called to the bar in Canada and then
practiced energy law at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada for a while.
This is a remarkable story of divine grace from God. Having
received so much support and mentoring from institutions abroad,
what I have done with my career so far is to utilise these
knowledge to serve my nation and to motivate young and upcoming
lawyers.
You have been recently shortlisted for by the Legal
Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) for the prestigious rank
of Senior Advocate of Nigeria under the academic category. Do you
intend to set up a law practice soon to mentor young
lawyers?
I am very humbled and honoured to have been shortlisted for the SAN
award. It is also a positive reinforcement for young academics and
scholars that with hard work and diligence, recognition will come
some day. But as you know, the SAN award is a privilege, not a
right. While I have earnest hope for a successful final outcome, I
would not like to think just too far yet about next steps. I like
to take it one step at a time. To have been shortlisted is a great
attestation to the integrity and transparency of the process, let
us wait and see what follows.
What is your advice for students?
As I tell my students, a great lawyer knows a little about
everything. My advice for them is that they should take the
opportunities of being students to learn more about everything:
politics, sports, music, current affairs, society, language,
religion and of course law. Push the boundaries by reading more
from books, newspapers, law reports, and every other available
material on the subject in the library. Such mental curiosity and
desire to know more is the secret of success in this profession,
whether as a practicing lawyer, legal academic, university
administrator or even politician. As Thomas Huxley once remarked, a
good student “Tries to learn something about everything and
everything about something.”
Culled: guardian
Harvard and Oxford-trained scholar, Damilola Sunday Olawuyi,
is a globally recognised professor of Energy and Environmental Law
and director of the leading research think tank, the Institute for
Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES
Institute) at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. He is Vice
President of the Nigerian branch of the International Law
Association; member of the World Commission on International
Environmental Law; and expert member of the International Law
Association Committee on Sustainable Natural Resource Development
where he represents Nigeria. He served as visiting professor at
Columbia University, Oxford University and the China University of
Political Science and Law. He has several publications in leading
international law journals on the subject of renewable energy,
agriculture, climate change and sustainable development. In this
interview with the Yetunde Ayobami Ojo, he says government should
urgently develop the country’s enormous renewable energy
potential.
Nigeria, like many oil producing countries, is still
reeling from the impact of the drop in the prices of oil. Will the
oil and gas sector ever fully recover?
Unlike many that have written and published the obituary of the oil
and gas industry, we professionals in the field know that the
future of the sector remains exceedingly bright. The industry has
been through, and survived, similar periodic downturns in the past,
ranging from the 1973 oil crisis (first oil shock) in which the
price of oil increased 400 per cent, leading to scarcity in some
countries; then the 1979 oil shock when prices increased 100 per
cent and the third oil crisis in 1990s, which contributed to global
economic recession of the early 1990s and the most recent one.
This recent downturn has hit all of us hard due to failure to
government’s properly utilise proceeds of the glorious years, when
oil sold over $100 per barrel, to develop our infrastructure and to
vitalise other key sectors. I have worked in the oil and gas
countries in the Middle East such as, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, and
they are, for example, not in recession as we speak, due to years
of proper utilisation of oil proceeds. For an oil and gas giant
like Nigeria to ever be in recession is a great shame.
The US shale boom is another potential game changer, which has,
and will continue to alter the demand for our oil and nudge us to
an uncertain future outlook. The International Energy Agency (IEA)
has for example predicted that the United States would overtake
Saudi Arabia to become the world’s leading oil producer by 2020
and, together with Canada, would become a net exporter of oil
around 2030. These are tough predictions for Nigeria, as our main
oil customer will itself become a leading supplier. This is why
this is the time for Nigeria to start diversifying its economic
base to shift to mining, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.
This is what Qatar and a number of the Middle East giants are
investing time and resources on, in order to stay ahead in the face
of a changing energy outlook.
As we speak, I am currently leading a funded research project
for the government of Qatar on this issue of low carbon energy
transition. These are smart oil and gas producing countries that
have accelerated their paths to energy and economic
diversification. Wide scale economic diversification is the key for
Nigeria to remain strong and competitive in the league of frontier
energy jurisdictions.
What do you think is the most important step in
diversifying the Nigerian economy at this challenging
time?
Nigeria is very rich in energy. We only tend to focus excessively
on oil and gas. Nigeria has strong comparative strengths in
renewable energy, an area that the Nigerian Government has yet to
fully develop.
Over the last five years, renewable energy has gained global
prominence as the new oil and gas. Last year alone, worldwide
investments in renewable energy amounted to more than US$214
billion with countries such as, Canada, China and the United States
heavily investing in wind, hydro, solar and biofuel infrastructure
projects. Apart from private sector investments, the United
Nations, World Bank, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA),
and other development agencies have established special Clean Funds
through which governments at federal and state levels can access
funds to develop renewable energy projects ranging from conversion
of biomass or waste to energy; biofuels from agriculture;
geothermal, mini-hydro, solar and wind energy projects. Renewable
energy projects funded under this platform focus on ways to reduce
energy poverty; generate clean jobs; and produce sustainable and
renewable energy in developing countries. They can also be the key
to solving Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
Nigeria’s potentials as a significant source of renewable energy
have never been in doubt. From the water intensity of the Osun
River in my home state, Osun; to the expanse hectares of arable
land in many parts of Nigeria; and the sunshine intensity in the
North, have led to several scientific conclusions that Nigeria
could be one of the richest countries on earth in terms of solar,
wind and hydro energy. Unlike oil and gas, these are clean, cheap,
inexhaustible sources of electricity, meaning they never end. They
also come with less environmental problems such as pollution or
spillage.
Nigeria has infinite potentials to be the leader in renewable
energy sources in Africa. Renewable energy can directly contribute
to poverty alleviation programs by attracting international
development funds for renewable energy projects; boosting
internally generated revenue by attracting global and public
private partnership investments in renewable energy projects;
creating new energy jobs for youths; providing alternative energy
supply for businesses; and deploying clean cooking stoves and
household stand- alone solar solutions in rural communities.
Given these enormous economic advantages of renewable
and alternative energy, how can government move this
forward?
One key problem we have in this area is lack of sustained policy
action by successive governments. On May 05, 2015, the Federal
Government of Nigeria officially adopted the National Policy on
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which aims to increase
renewable energy investments to generate electricity and to address
climate change problems. The policy also aimed to establish a
federal agency on renewable energy like many other countries in the
world have done. However, this program was launched in the last few
weeks of former President Goodluck Jonathan administration. Since
2015, not much has been heard about the renewable energy programme.
I have personally been leading scholarly agenda aimed at getting
the current government to revisit this lofty energy diversification
and electricity generation program.
In 2015, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola, invited me to help develop a policy programme that
could help Osun State attain leadership in implementing a robust
renewable energy and energy efficiency program over the next
decade. However, this unfortunately coincided with the time our
State had problems with protesting workers so we had to halt this
plan. I do hope to revisit this ambitious plan in the future at
State and Federal levels. For example, if well developed, we could
generate electricity from solar, hydro and wind sources, making it
possible for each state to be self sufficient in terms of
generating adequate amount of electricity for domestic and
industrial use.
How serious do you think Nigeria is in addressing the
issue of Climate change?
Nigeria will need to move from bureaucratic rhetoric to more
concrete and holistic action to address climate change. In the
Paris Agreement, Nigeria pledged to reduce its GHG emissions by 20
per cent by 2020 and 45 per cent by 2030. These are ambitious
targets, which on the ground, we have done little in terms of laws,
institutions and policies to actualise.
As of today, we have no climate change law, no climate change
federal agency and no national action plan on GHG reduction. I was
personally excited when the current government appointed the
immediate past Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, as Minister
for Environment. However, she had to leave to become the United
Nations Deputy Secretary General.
We need to revisit some of the lofty blue prints she developed
on climate change mitigation and adaptation in Nigeria. The
environment is too serious an issue to be left at the periphery of
decision-making. Climate change should not be viewed as a threat
alone, it is also a great economic opportunity for Nigeria to
develop a green economy that encourages new jobs in recycling,
waste management, green buildings and clean transportation. We can
get there. We only need to start first.
How can you assess Nigeria’s readiness to achieve the
SDGs?
As you rightly noted, on September 25, 2015, countries, including
Nigeria, adopted a set of targets and goals to end poverty, protect
the planet, and ensure prosperity for all, over the next 15 years.
In other words, by the year 2030, the plan is that our world will
be on the path of comparable and holistic social, economic and
environmental development.
For these ambitious goals to be reached, we must ask, how can we
avoid the same pitfalls and mistakes that made it impossible for us
to attain the MDGs that expired in 2015. Everyone needs to do their
part: governments, the private sector, civil society and people
like you and I, to avoid the same false start. As of today, Nigeria
has not done much to correct the same pitfalls, which centre on
lack of sustained governmental action to pursue the sustainable
development agenda.
By attaining the rank of full professor of law in 2015
at the age of 32, you became one of the youngest law professors in
Nigeria, what are the challenges you faced in achieving that
feat?
Well, I am humbled and honoured to follow the remarkable path of
Nigeria’s current Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo. SAN who
I understand also attained full professorship at the age of 33. I
am very fortunate to have tapped into the visions of the President
and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe
Babalola, SAN, OFR, LL.D, CON, who is well known to be one of the
most successful lawyers in Nigeria’s history and a leading advocate
for university reform. Working closely with him challenged me to be
the best in my teaching and research. Babalola’s accomplishments,
from very humble beginnings, is enough motivation for every one
associated with ABUAD to push for the greatest heights, break
existing records and set new ones. The university and college of
law provided the right atmosphere and resources for me to achieve
this feat. Without the support and best wishes of everyone, ranging
from the president and founder of the university, to the senior
management of the university, the DVC and provost of the College of
Law, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, to my head of department, and my
students, this attainment would have been highly impossible. I
faced no barrier; all I saw was motivation, encouragements and
opportunities.
You are an alumnus of the Harvard and Oxford University,
how did you achieve these?
I owe these achievements to the divine grace of God. How else could
a young lad from Igbajo, Osun State, end up at these famous
institutions? After achieving first class honours from the
university, and another first class from the Nigerian Law School, I
was double charged to follow the paths of the likes of ILA
President, Professor Fidelis Oditah, QC, SAN who after making first
class degrees from UNILAG and the Law School, also got scholarships
to study at Oxford. Luckily, I was still at the Law School when I
received a full scholarship from the Government of Canada to pursue
LL.M in energy law at the University of Calgary in Canada.
From Calgary, I received another full scholarship to go to
Harvard University for another LL.M, and while still at Harvard, I
received the prestigious Clarendon Scholarship and the Queen’s
Overseas Research Scholarship to study for a PhD at Oxford
University. After this, I was called to the bar in Canada and then
practiced energy law at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada for a while.
This is a remarkable story of divine grace from God. Having
received so much support and mentoring from institutions abroad,
what I have done with my career so far is to utilise these
knowledge to serve my nation and to motivate young and upcoming
lawyers.
You have been recently shortlisted for by the Legal
Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) for the prestigious rank
of Senior Advocate of Nigeria under the academic category. Do you
intend to set up a law practice soon to mentor young
lawyers?
I am very humbled and honoured to have been shortlisted for the SAN
award. It is also a positive reinforcement for young academics and
scholars that with hard work and diligence, recognition will come
some day. But as you know, the SAN award is a privilege, not a
right. While I have earnest hope for a successful final outcome, I
would not like to think just too far yet about next steps. I like
to take it one step at a time. To have been shortlisted is a great
attestation to the integrity and transparency of the process, let
us wait and see what follows.
What is your advice for students?
As I tell my students, a great lawyer knows a little about
everything. My advice for them is that they should take the
opportunities of being students to learn more about everything:
politics, sports, music, current affairs, society, language,
religion and of course law. Push the boundaries by reading more
from books, newspapers, law reports, and every other available
material on the subject in the library. Such mental curiosity and
desire to know more is the secret of success in this profession,
whether as a practicing lawyer, legal academic, university
administrator or even politician. As Thomas Huxley once remarked, a
good student “Tries to learn something about everything and
everything about something.”
Culled: guardian
Read more https://nairalaw.com/government-should-tap-into-renewable-energy-potential/