By Sunday Olatunji,Ado Ekiti
The Chairman of Ado Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Engr. Toyin Ojo, has advocated the adoption of a zero-waste electricity grid as a strategic pathway to achieving sustainable energy security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
Engr. Ojo made the call while delivering the 3rd Annual Public Lecture, titled “Powering Tomorrow: Engineering the Zero-Waste Grid,” organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ado-Ekiti Branch, in celebration of its pioneer Chairman, Engr. Dr. A. A. Afolabi, at the Ministry of Works, Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday.
In his lecture, Engr. Ojo described a zero-waste grid as an integrated energy infrastructure designed to minimise or eliminate the waste of materials, energy losses, emissions, and unused energy by combining renewable energy generation, energy storage systems, waste-to-energy technologies, and intelligent electricity distribution networks.
According to him, the concept is built on the principle of recovering, recycling, and repurposing every available energy stream to ensure maximum efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
The guest speaker explained that Nigeria must embrace innovative engineering solutions capable of promoting energy efficiency, reducing transmission and distribution losses, and maximising the use of renewable energy resources to meet the country’s growing energy demand.
He identified major sources of energy waste in the nation’s electricity sector to include aging infrastructure, inefficient transformers, heat losses through resistive conductors, energy theft, faulty billing systems, obsolete equipment, and inadequate maintenance of power facilities.
To address these challenges, Engr. Ojo recommended universal metering, power quality enhancement technologies, modern transmission infrastructure, energy storage systems, smart grid technologies, regular maintenance of electrical installations, and increased investment in renewable energy sources. He stressed that collaboration among governments, policymakers, investors, engineers, researchers, academia, and industry stakeholders is essential to building a cleaner, more reliable, and sustainable power sector.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ekiti State Branch, Engr. Omotola Alawode, FNSE, expressed gratitude to God for preserving the lives of members of the Society, particularly Engr. Dr. A. A. Afolabi, the pioneer Chairman of the branch, in whose honour the lecture was organised.
She commended Engr. Toyin Ojo for his remarkable contributions to the growth and advancement of the engineering profession and the Nigerian Society of Engineers, describing him as an accomplished engineer whose achievements span research, academia, industry, public service, and politics.
Describing the engineering profession, she said, “Engineering is a profession that exploits technological innovations and advances in research to develop models, systems and tools that make life easier for mankind and drive sustainable development.”
She urged participants to pay rapt attention to the guest speaker, expressing confidence that his wealth of experience and expertise would do justice to the lecture theme and enrich the knowledge of everyone present.
In their separate remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology & Environmental Science, Iyin-Ekiti, Engr. Prof. Femi Aribisala, FNSE, FAEng, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Engr. Dr. T. J. Alake, and the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Engr. Prof.Adeyemo MNSE,among other distinguished personalities, commended the guest speaker for his insightful and well-researched presentation, noting that it demonstrated exceptional depth despite his not being a career academic.
They described the lecture as timely and intellectually enriching, saying it offered practical engineering solutions to contemporary challenges in the energy sector. They also encouraged young engineers to embrace research, innovation, and technology-driven problem-solving by developing models and solutions capable of addressing societal challenges and contributing to Nigeria’s sustainable development.
The event featured colourful cultural performances, goodwill messages, and the presentation of an Award of Excellence and a Certificate of Public Lecture to Engr. Toyin Ojo in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and national development. The honours were presented on behalf of the Society by Oba Engr. David Olawumi, FNSE, the Oloja of Owatedo-Ekiti, alongside Engr.Femi Famuagun
The lecture attracted a large gathering of eminent personalities from the engineering profession, academia, government, and the political class. Among the dignitaries present were Engr. Prof. Gbenga Aribisala, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti; Engr. Prof. S. Adeyemo ,MNSE ,immediate past V C Elizade University,Ondo State ; senior government officials, top local government functionaries, captains of industry, academics, engineering professionals, students, and other stakeholders.
Participants described the lecture as insightful, practical, and forward-looking, noting that the adoption of zero-waste engineering principles would significantly improve Nigeria’s power infrastructure, enhance energy efficiency, promote environmental sustainability, and accelerate national development.
