COUNCIL FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY NIGERIA (CREN) ELECTS RENOWNED ENERGY AND CLIMATE LEADER DR. UZODINMA ADIRIEJE AS DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Abuja, Nigeria
The Council for Renewable Energy Nigeria (CREN) has officially announced the election of Dr. Uzodinma Akujekwe Adirieje as its new Deputy President following executive elections conducted last week.
Dr. Adirieje – a distinguished Nigerian leader in renewable energy, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, energy efficiency, climate action, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability, brings more than three decades of professional experience spanning clean energy, policy formulation, technical standards, and international development to the leadership of CREN.
In his new role, Dr. Adirieje will combine technical expertise, national energy-sector engagement, standards development, and international climate advocacy to help steer Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
A SYNTHESIS OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, STANDARDS AND POLICY
Dr. Adirieje’s appointment strengthens CREN’s executive capacity across multiple critical dimensions:
• Practical Solar PV Expertise: He holds practical training in Photovoltaic (PV) Installation from the ASteven Energy Institute, Nigeria, providing grounded technical mastery in solar PV system configuration, component integration, and solar energy applications.
• National Energy Engagement: His professional credentials include active engagement with the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) on renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation, and public sensitisation initiatives.
• Technical Standards and Quality Assurance: Dr. Adirieje served as a Member of the Technical Committee on Draft Standards for Renewable Energy of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), contributing directly to the nation’s technical, regulatory, and quality-assurance frameworks for clean technologies.
• Energy Storage and Innovation: Following a GIZ-supported technical learning engagement in Germany, his expertise encompasses battery manufacturing, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), technology transfer, and distributed energy security.
GLOBAL CLIMATE DIPLOMACY AND INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP
Beyond his technical background, Dr. Adirieje is a prominent leader in national and global climate governance:
• Civil Society and Institutional Leadership: He is the President of the Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN), former Public Relations Officer of CREN, and Alternate Focal Person/Steering Committee Member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations Alliance (REEEA-A).
• UNFCCC and COP Climate Advocacy: Serving as Chairperson of the Global Civil Society Consortium on Climate Change (GCSCCC) and CEO/Programmes Director of Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), Dr. Adirieje led major civil society delegations, press conferences, and negotiations at UNFCCC COP29, with ongoing leadership across the COP30 and COP31 cycles.
• Environmental and Grassroots Impact: He previously led the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)-supported Sustainable Citizen Participation Project across 81 LGAs in all 9 Niger Delta states, addressing several energy, climate-health and environmental issues. He also served as Chairman and Technical Working Group Lead of the Nigeria Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (NiPBES).