By Constance/Angela Atabo
The Federal Government says the Global Environment Facility (GEF) – United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Industrial Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production (IEE & RECP) project industrialises Nigeria without degrading its environment.
The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, spoke on Wednesday at the closing of the IEE & RECP project in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by UNIDO in partnership with Nigerian institutions and the private sector.
Lawal said the initiative had demonstrated that Nigeria could industrialise without degrading its environment.
The minister, who was represented by Mr Bukar Babagana, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics/GEF Operational Focal Point, described the project’s outcome as a “transformation” rather than just the completion of a programme.
“Today, we close a chapter and inaugurate a legacy.
“When we inaugurated “Improving Nigeria’s Industrial Energy Performance and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production Through Programmatic Approaches and Promotion of Innovator Clean Technology Solutions” we asked ourselves a bold question.
“Can Nigeria industrialise without degrading our environment? Can we power our factories without polluting our water bodies? Choking years later, the answer is clear: Yes. We can. And we have begun.”
“The minister said one of the most significant achievements of the project was the development of human capacity, with over 200 professionals, including regulators, policymakers, and industry experts trained in energy efficiency and cleaner production techniques on IEE and RECP.”
Babagana said that beyond training, the initiative also integrated RECP into university curricula, ensuring that future engineers and industrial designers embed sustainability into their work from the outset.
According to him, Nigeria has also established, for the first time, a national database of industrial waste hotspots and energy-intensive enterprises, providing a critical tool for policy planning and investment decisions.
“In addition, groundwork has been completed for the establishment of a National Cleaner Production Centre, which would serve as a long-term hub for innovation, policy support, and technical advisory services to industry.”
Lawal thanked GEF-UNIDO and other partners for the initiative, adding that the Federal Government would champion and expand the adoption of cleaner production practices across all 36 states, particularly among small and medium enterprises.
“The era of ‘grow first, clean later’ is over; the most competitive industries today are those that use resources efficiently and turn waste into value.
“We will sustain gains recorded,’’ he said.
National Project Coordinator, IEE and RECP, Dr Jacob Oladipo, said the project achieved measurable results within participating industries, including cleaner production assessments, technical training, and international certifications.
“This initiative recognised industries demonstrating excellence and early adoption of IEE & RECP methodologies,celebrating outstanding performers and motivated broader industry participation in resource efficiency, environmental sustainability.
“There was also continuous improvement, reinforcing our collective commitment to competitiveness and sustainability within Nigeria’s industrial landscape.
“As the National Project Coordinator, I am proud to note that these achievements reflect strong collaboration among all stakeholders and align with the vision of UNIDO at the inception of this project.
“Nigerian Foundries Ltd. and Dalas Foods Industries successfully obtained ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 certifications respectively, demonstrating improved energy management and environmental compliance.”
He added that companies such as Nestlé Nigeria, Nigerian Foundries, and Avon Crowncaps emerged as top performers in an industry efficiency competition, having demonstrated early adoption of IEE and RECP practices.
UNIDO Programme Manager, Karin Reiss-Haimbala, noted that the project revealed strong demand among Nigerian industries for energy efficiency and sustainable production solutions.
“It is clear that industries value these services.
“We are very happy that we worked with MAN and the Energy Commission of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Bank of Industry, and also the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
“It really shows how strongly embedded this project is in the national ownership or structures.
“It is very critical that we take this to scale, to build on the momentum and increase these services for Nigerian industries,’’ he said.
Also speaking, the Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said the programme helped to address one of the sector’s most pressing challenges which is high energy costs.
Ajayi-Kadir explained that energy accounted for between 30 and 40 per cent of manufacturing costs, making efficiency improvements critical to competitiveness.
“This programme has enabled manufacturers to optimise energy use, improve processes, and remain environmentally compliant.It is now becoming embedded in how we produce,” he said.
He added that the identified top-performing companies would serve as benchmarks to encourage wider adoption across the sector.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
