The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) has held an international workshop to drive sustainable energy education and tackle Africa’s energy poverty.

The two-week programme was held through the Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES) under the Sustainable ­Energy Education – Developing Exchange Between Continents (SEEDexchange) Project, a tri-continental partnership advancing renewable energy education and research.

The SEEDexchange project, funded by the DAAD, aims to share country-specific knowledge to enhance renewable energy deployment, particularly in rural communities.

Partners

The workshop brought together partners from UENR (Ghana), the University of Oldenburg (Germany), the University of Antioquia (Colombia), and Change the World, a non-governmental organisation based in Colombia.

It also attracted some German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) alumni from across Africa and beyond.

Opening the programme, the UENR Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, said the initiative aligned with the institution’s core mandate of promoting research and innovation in energy and natural resources.

He noted that the SEEDexchange project enhanced UENR’s global visibility, built staff and student capacity, and strengthened international collaborations.

He commended the DAAD for its financial support and highlighted UENR’s newly established Centre for Research Grants and Innovation as a vehicle for expanding partnerships and securing grants.

Researchers

Delivering the keynote address, the Director of Renewable Energy and Green Transition at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, Seth A. Mahu, challenged researchers and students to develop cutting-edge solutions to achieve universal energy access in Africa.

He stressed the importance of mini-grid electrification in overcoming the limitations of extending traditional grid systems.

He urged the SEEDexchange community to make measurable contributions towards Africa’s energy goals by 2030.

The DAAD Regional Office Director, Lena Leumer, praised UENR for its growing reputation in renewable energy research and education.

She explained that DAAD supports higher education through scholarships and institutional partnerships, and emphasised that renewable energy remains a priority for Germany and Ghana.

A Research Fellow at RCEES, Dr Benjamin Batinge, said the SEED Project was designed to provide postgraduate students with hands-on and cross-country training in sustainable energy.