Nigeria Can Create 288,000 Jobs From Biodiesel by 2035 — Expert

Nigeria could create 288,000 jobs and produce 1.5 billion litres of biodiesel annually by 2035 through investment in converting agricultural waste into renewable fuel, a chemical engineering expert, Prof. Kessington Obahiagbon, has said.

Obahiagbon, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Professorial Chairholder in Renewable Energy at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), made the projection on Thursday in Benin City, Edo State.

He spoke at the close-out seminar of the PTDF Professorial Chair in Renewable Energy, where he delivered a lecture titled, “Agrowaste to Fuel: Biodiesel Development, Opportunities and Challenges for Youth Employment in the 21st Century.”

According to him, developing the biodiesel industry could also reduce carbon emissions, strengthen energy security and create new economic opportunities for young Nigerians.

The expert said the proposed production capacity could help Nigeria diversify its energy sources while turning agricultural residues and other waste materials into valuable resources.

He identified inadequate infrastructure, including poor road networks, insufficient storage facilities and limited processing capacity, as major obstacles to developing the industry.

Obahiagbon called for government incentives, including tax breaks and subsidies, alongside investment in infrastructure and increased private-sector participation to address funding and technology gaps.

He said such support would help researchers and entrepreneurs move beyond laboratory research to commercial production and create employment across the biodiesel value chain.

The Executive Secretary of the PTDF, Prof. Shuaibu Aliyu, reaffirmed the fund’s commitment to research, innovation, technological advancement and indigenous human-capital development in Nigeria’s energy sector.

Aliyu, represented by Ereh Iyalla, Head of the Gas Division at PTDF, described the research as timely, given Nigeria’s priorities of sustainable energy, environmental protection, economic diversification and youth employment.

He said the PTDF Professorial Chair Programme was designed to support academic excellence while encouraging research that addresses practical national and industry challenges.

Aliyu urged universities and researchers to translate their findings into technology development, demonstrations, industry adoption and commercialisation.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, SAN, commended PTDF for supporting research at the institution and assured the fund that the university would continue to maximise the opportunities provided by the programme.

The projected jobs and production figures remain conditional on investment, infrastructure development, reliable supplies of raw materials and effective collaboration among government, researchers and industry.