- GIFSEP trains communities in solar power installation and maintenance, focusing on areas like Owukpa, Benue, and IDP camps in Borno.
- GIFSEP won the AFRIKAVUKA Awards 2024 as “Solar Saviour” by 350 Africa for promoting renewable energy in underserved areas.
- GIFSEP aims to extend renewable energy benefits widely and forge partnerships to advance global sustainable energy adoption.
The Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) urges stakeholders to intensify efforts to promote renewable energy. David Terungwa, GIFSEP’s Executive Director, appealed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, July 15, 2024, in Abuja.
Terungwa emphasises the NGO’s advocacy for solar power, citing its potential to meet the nation’s energy needs. “We have initiated various programs to make solar power accessible, such as training sessions on solar system installation and maintenance in communities,” he said. He notes that GIFSEP extends these efforts to Owukpa in Borno’s Benue and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Reflecting on the past year, Terungwa remarked, “We began the year with a productive review of our previous work, preparing for a new year of empowering individuals, communities, and nations for resilience.”
GIFSEP earned recognition with the AFRIKAVUKA Awards 2024, where the organisation won the “Solar Saviour” title by 350 Africa. This award highlights GIFSEP’s dedication to promoting sustainable and renewable energy, especially in underserved communities.
Terungwa also mentions Ghana’s Reducing Our Carbon 350 (350-GROC), an NGO that mobilises and empowers young people to adopt renewable energy. “We feel thrilled to receive the AFRIKAVUKA Awards 2024 as ‘Solar Saviour’ by 350 Africa,” he said. “This award encourages us to continue advocating for renewable energy and taking on projects that alleviate energy poverty in communities.”
Terungwa said the award boosts motivation for GIFSEP’s team and inspires more significant impacts. He expresses optimism that more individuals and communities will benefit from renewable energy, creating more partnership opportunities to promote the global adoption of sustainable energy solutions.
“Our planet serves as a shared home for all living creatures. Let us protect it; otherwise, we will need protection, and it might be too late,” Terungwa urged.
GIFSEP, founded on the principles of environmental education, climate change adaptation and mitigation, renewable energy, and sustainable development, continues to champion these causes across Nigeria and beyond.