Athena Centre Launches Governance Institute, Expands Leadership to Deepen Public Policy Research

By: Michael Mike

The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has launched the Alhaji Gidado Idris Institute of Governance and Public Policy, a new research platform aimed at strengthening public institutions and improving governance in Nigeria, while announcing four senior leadership appointments to drive its expanding policy agenda.

The institute, named after the late Alhaji Gidado Idris, one of Nigeria’s longest-serving senior civil servants who served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Permanent Secretary under successive military and civilian administrations, is expected to serve as the Centre’s flagship platform for governance research, policy innovation and institutional performance.

The announcement, made in Abuja on Tuesday, marks a significant expansion of the Centre’s work as Nigeria grapples with persistent governance challenges, weak public institutions and increasing calls for evidence-based policymaking.

Speaking on the initiative, Chancellor of the Athena Centre, Osita Chidoka, said Africa’s development challenge is fundamentally rooted in the quality of its institutions rather than the number of policies governments produce.

According to him, countries achieve sustainable transformation by building institutions capable of implementing policies with integrity, competence and accountability.

“The Alhaji Gidado Idris Institute is our contribution to that institutional future. It is a future in which government works more effectively for citizens, public trust is strengthened, and evidence consistently informs decision-making,” Chidoka said.

As part of the restructuring, the Centre appointed Dr. Christiantus I. Anyanwu as Director of the newly established Alhaji Gidado Idris Institute of Governance and Public Policy.

A political scientist and governance specialist, Anyanwu previously served as Senior Lecturer at Veritas University, Abuja, and Senior Research Fellow at the Athena Centre. He holds a doctorate in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Abuja and has published over 30 scholarly works on democratic governance, electoral integrity and institutional development.

He is expected to lead the institute’s research and policy engagement under its inaugural programme, “Making Government Work for Citizens at Every Level.”

The Centre also named Professor Temitayo Shenkoya as Director of the Arthur Nwankwo Institute for Education and Intellectual Freedom.

Professor Shenkoya, a governance and innovation scholar with more than two decades of international experience, currently serves as Professorial Researcher and Regional Director for Africa at Chungnam National University in South Korea. His career has included leadership roles at the Abuja Technology Village Foundation, UNICEF Nigeria and the Daejeon Metropolitan Government.

He will oversee the institute’s flagship programme, “Fixing Nigeria’s Schools: Accountability and Digital Transformation,” aimed at addressing governance deficits in the education sector.

Similarly, Dr. Danjuma Iyaji was appointed Director of the Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Institute for Health and Social Equity.

A health economist and monitoring, evaluation and research specialist, Iyaji has worked with the Society for Family Health, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while also teaching at several Nigerian universities.

His institute will focus on expanding access to affordable healthcare and nutrition through a 2026 programme designed to strengthen health equity across Nigeria.

The Athena Centre also appointed Sarah Eke as Head of the Athena Election Observatory, where she will supervise election audits, electoral data analytics and policy recommendations for electoral reforms.

A founding member of the organisation, Eke has coordinated election observation and post-election assessments across several Nigerian states, including Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi, Edo, Ondo and Anambra. She also previously worked on a presidential campaign, focusing on voter intelligence and electoral strategy.

Chidoka said the appointments demonstrate the Centre’s determination to combine academic excellence with practical policy expertise capable of influencing governance reforms.

“Our ambition is not simply to produce research. It is to produce ideas that influence policy, institutions that strengthen governance, and leaders who transform society. These appointments represent an investment in that mission,” he said.

The expansion comes at a time when governance experts have repeatedly called for stronger public institutions to address Nigeria’s development challenges. Analysts argue that despite numerous reform initiatives over the years, implementation gaps, institutional weaknesses and policy inconsistencies continue to undermine public service delivery.

Named after the late Alhaji Gidado Idris, who was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential technocrats, the new institute seeks to uphold his legacy of professionalism, continuity and institutional memory in public administration.

The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership is an independent, non-partisan think tank that promotes governance reforms, evidence-based public policy and ethical leadership across Africa through research, executive education and strategic policy dialogue.

Athena Centre Launches Governance Institute, Expands Leadership to Deepen Public Policy Research

Experts Warn Nigeria Against ‘New Oil Curse’ as Rush for Critical Minerals Raises Alarm Over Insecurity, Deforestation

By: Michael Mike

A coalition of environmental experts, traditional leaders and academics on Tuesday issued a stark warning that Nigeria could be heading towards another resource curse unless it radically reforms the governance of its burgeoning solid minerals sector, cautioning that the global race for critical minerals risks replicating the environmental devastation, conflict and inequality that have characterised decades of oil exploitation in the Niger Delta.

The warning came at the Third Nigeria Socio-Ecological Alternatives Convergence (NSAC) in Abuja, where participants argued that the country’s renewed enthusiasm over recent discoveries of lithium, rare earth elements, gold, platinum group metals and other strategic minerals must be matched with stronger environmental safeguards, community rights and transparent governance.

The conference, themed “Deforestation, Mining and the Crisis of Human Security in Nigeria,” brought together traditional rulers, environmental activists, academics, civil society organisations and community leaders to examine the implications of Nigeria’s growing role in the global energy transition.

The discussions followed the Federal Government’s recent announcement of what it described as a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State, containing lithium, rare earth elements, gold, copper, nickel and platinum group metals, as part of efforts to position Nigeria as a leading supplier of critical minerals needed for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

However, speakers at the convergence insisted that the country must avoid repeating the mistakes made in the oil industry.

Leading the call was Professor of Anthropology and African Studies at the University of Michigan, Prof. Omolade Adunbi, who warned that critical minerals were rapidly becoming “the new oil” and could reproduce the same patterns of environmental destruction, elite capture and violent conflict unless a new governance model is adopted.

“The world must decarbonise,” he said. “But the deeper question is what kind of decarbonisation, governed by whom, for whose benefit, and at whose cost?”

According to him, while renewable energy technologies are promoted as environmentally friendly, they rely heavily on minerals extracted from communities whose forests, rivers and farmlands could become the next “sacrifice zones.”

Drawing parallels with the Niger Delta, Adunbi argued that Nigeria’s experience with oil should serve as a warning against pursuing mineral wealth without environmental justice.

“Critical minerals may become the new oil. If they are governed through the same extractive logic that shaped oil extraction in the Niger Delta, they will reproduce dispossession, deforestation, insecurity, elite capture and ecological degradation,” he said.

He urged the government to adopt a comprehensive “Just Minerals Strategy” that would make community consent legally binding, prohibit mining in ecologically sensitive areas, guarantee environmental restoration and ensure host communities receive a fair share of the benefits.

Also speaking, renowned environmentalist and Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, questioned the country’s excitement over new mineral discoveries without first addressing the governance failures that left the Niger Delta environmentally devastated despite decades of oil wealth.

“Have we learned the lessons of almost seven decades of oil extraction in the Niger Delta?” he asked.

“We are yet to have serious conversations on what sort of development we desire.”

Bassey argued that Nigeria’s forests, rivers and communities are increasingly being sacrificed in pursuit of an extractive development model that values natural resources above human lives.

He warned that the country’s forests are disappearing at an alarming rate of between 250,000 and 300,000 hectares annually, leaving primary forests to cover only about 1.3 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass.

At the current pace, he warned, Nigeria could lose virtually all its forests by 2052.

Beyond commercial logging and agricultural expansion, Bassey criticised emerging carbon credit projects, describing them as a form of “carbon colonialism” that risks dispossessing local communities in the name of climate action.

He cited plans involving hundreds of thousands of hectares of forests in Delta and Niger states earmarked for carbon credit initiatives, arguing that such projects often exclude indigenous communities from lands they have managed for generations.

The environmentalist also linked uncontrolled mining to rising insecurity, saying degraded forests are increasingly becoming operational bases for criminal gangs.

“Some forests have become habitats not for wildlife but for wild humans—bandits and terrorists—who disconnect communities from their forests and turn the territories into criminal fiefdoms,” he said.

The Chairman of the occasion and Emir of Nasarawa, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril, reinforced those concerns, describing illegal mining and deforestation as major drivers of banditry, insurgency and organised crime across Nigeria.

The monarch said criminal groups have increasingly taken control of mineral-rich areas, financing their operations through illegal mining and timber trafficking while displacing local communities.

“The nexus between mining, forest extraction, insecurity and Nigeria’s socio-ecological crisis forms a vicious cycle of resource plunder, environmental degradation and violent conflict,” he said.

Drawing from his experience as ruler of one of Nigeria’s most mineral-rich states, the Emir acknowledged that resources such as lithium, tantalite and rare earth elements offer enormous economic opportunities but insisted that development must never come at the expense of communities and the environment.

“Our natural resources are a blessing, but only if they are governed with justice, accountability and sustainability,” he said.

The Emir blamed weak environmental governance, corruption and political patronage for enabling illegal exploitation of natural resources while host communities bear the costs through pollution, displacement and declining livelihoods.

He called for stronger regulation, improved environmental enforcement and greater involvement of traditional institutions in protecting forests and resolving resource-related conflicts.

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the growing link between environmental degradation and national security.

Speakers argued that forests stripped by illegal logging and uncontrolled mining have become safe havens for bandits and kidnappers, while competition over natural resources is intensifying communal conflicts across several parts of the country.

Participants also warned that declining global demand for fossil fuels could tempt Nigeria into replacing dependence on crude oil with dependence on solid minerals without undertaking the institutional reforms necessary to avoid another resource curse.

Rather than pursuing what speakers described as a “dig now, regulate later” approach, they advocated stronger environmental governance, mandatory community consultation, domestic mineral processing, transparency in licensing and contracts, and restoration of degraded ecosystems.

The conference also challenged the assumption that renewable energy automatically translates into environmental justice.

According to the participants, the transition to cleaner energy must not create new sacrifice zones in Africa to sustain low-carbon economies elsewhere.

They insisted that communities should retain the right to reject mining projects affecting their ancestral lands and called for legally enforceable Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) before mining licences are issued.

As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, the convergence concluded that Nigeria faces a defining choice: either repeat the extractive model that left the Niger Delta scarred by pollution, conflict and poverty, or build a new governance framework that balances economic development with environmental sustainability, community rights and long-term national security.

For the participants, the lesson from Nigeria’s oil history was unmistakable: the transition to a green economy would only be meaningful if it delivered justice not just for the climate, but also for the people living where the minerals are found.

Experts Warn Nigeria Against ‘New Oil Curse’ as Rush for Critical Minerals Raises Alarm Over Insecurity, Deforestation

Nigeria Moves to Harness Hydrogen Economy as FG Validates Landmark Clean Energy Policy

By:Michael Mike

In a bold move to reposition Nigeria for the global clean energy revolution and reduce its dependence on crude oil revenues, the Federal Government on Tuesday validated the country’s National Hydrogen Policy, a landmark framework expected to drive investment, industrialisation, job creation and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The validation of the policy marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest to become a leading producer of hydrogen in Africa and an active player in the rapidly expanding global hydrogen market, which experts believe will be central to achieving net-zero carbon emissions and powering future industries.

The policy, developed after about 18 months of consultations involving government institutions, development partners, regulators, academia and the private sector, will now be forwarded to the National Economic Council (NEC) and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval before implementation begins.

Stakeholders at the National Hydrogen Policy Validation Workshop in Abuja described the document as a strategic roadmap that could redefine Nigeria’s energy future by leveraging the country’s vast natural gas reserves and renewable energy resources to produce both blue and green hydrogen.

The workshop brought together officials from the Federal Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning, Petroleum Resources and Environment, the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), ECOWAS, GIZ Nigeria, industry experts and development partners.

Participants unanimously agreed that hydrogen presents Nigeria with a rare opportunity to diversify its economy, strengthen energy security, create new industrial value chains and position the country as a major supplier of clean energy to regional and international markets.

Speaking at the workshop, the Cluster Coordinator for Just Transition and Inclusion at GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jochen Rudolf, described the validation exercise as the beginning of a long-term national journey rather than the end of a policy development process.

According to him, hydrogen technologies and global markets are evolving rapidly, making it necessary for governments to adopt flexible policies capable of responding to changing realities.

He cited Germany’s experience, noting that the European nation adopted its first National Hydrogen Strategy in 2020 and has since revised it twice to reflect emerging technological and market developments.

“Today, we are not closing a chapter; we are laying a solid foundation that gives Nigeria’s hydrogen sector a credible start while leaving room for future growth and adaptation,” Rudolf said.

He reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s energy transition agenda through GIZ and highlighted the long history of bilateral energy cooperation between both countries.

According to Rudolf, the partnership dates back to 1974 and has expanded significantly over the years with initiatives such as the German-Nigerian Energy Partnership launched in 2008 and the establishment of the German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office in 2021.

He noted that hydrogen is increasingly being recognised globally as a critical energy carrier capable of decarbonising sectors that are difficult to electrify, including steel production, cement manufacturing, shipping, aviation and heavy industrial processes.

He said the validated policy would provide Nigeria with the framework needed to attract investment, improve industrial competitiveness and utilise its natural resources more efficiently while contributing to global climate action.

Representing both the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Kayode Mariam, a member of the National Hydrogen Committee, described the validation as another important milestone in Nigeria’s drive towards building a competitive hydrogen economy.

She explained that work on the policy began about 18 months ago because hydrogen development cuts across multiple sectors and therefore required broad consultation among ministries, departments and agencies.

Mariam said the policy aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, particularly efforts to diversify the economy beyond oil and gas revenues and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

“We all know that one of the priorities of the current administration is to diversify the economy and create jobs for young people. Hydrogen offers enormous potential to achieve economic diversification, attract foreign investment and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness globally,” she said.

She added that the policy is expected to provide investors with greater confidence by outlining clear national priorities and implementation strategies for hydrogen development.

The Federal Ministry of Environment also threw its weight behind the initiative, describing hydrogen as a critical component of Nigeria’s climate response strategy.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, the Director of the Department of Climate Change, Asmau Jibril, said hydrogen presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to utilise its natural resources responsibly while advancing environmentally sustainable development.

She stressed that the country’s transition to a hydrogen economy must be environmentally responsible, socially inclusive and economically beneficial.

According to her, effective implementation of the policy would strengthen Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, support implementation of the Climate Change Act and contribute significantly towards achieving the country’s target of net-zero emissions by 2060.

Jibril urged stakeholders to ensure that the final document reflects practical realities and provides clear pathways for implementation.

On the regulatory side, the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority disclosed that work has already commenced on developing regulations that will govern hydrogen production, transportation, storage and utilisation in Nigeria.

Representing the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, the authority’s Director of Health and Safety, Amos Oliver, said investors require certainty regarding safety standards, regulations and infrastructure before committing significant capital to hydrogen projects.

He said the authority would also assess how Nigeria’s extensive natural gas pipeline infrastructure could be adapted to transport hydrogen, thereby reducing future infrastructure costs and accelerating commercial deployment.

Oliver expressed optimism that following the validation exercise, the policy would receive the necessary approvals from the National Economic Council and the Federal Executive Council.

The Energy Commission of Nigeria equally expressed confidence that the policy would position the country as one of Africa’s leading hydrogen producers.

Representing the Director-General of the commission, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, the Deputy Director of Renewable Energy, Adeola Ijeoma, said Nigeria possesses several strategic advantages that make it highly competitive in hydrogen production.

These, she said, include more than 210 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, abundant sunshine suitable for large-scale solar power generation and significant renewable energy resources capable of supporting green hydrogen production.

She explained that the policy adopts a phased approach by first utilising Nigeria’s natural gas resources together with carbon capture technologies to produce blue hydrogen before gradually expanding green hydrogen production using renewable electricity through electrolysis.

According to her, this transition strategy reflects both Nigeria’s current energy realities and its long-term climate ambitions.

She disclosed that the Energy Commission is already coordinating several initiatives, including a United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)-supported green hydrogen project and strategic alignment programmes involving key ministries and regulatory agencies.

“The policy we validate today will influence investment decisions, regulatory frameworks and industrial development for many years to come,” she said.

The validation of the National Hydrogen Policy comes at a time when governments around the world are accelerating investments in clean energy technologies as part of efforts to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Hydrogen is increasingly regarded as one of the most promising fuels of the future because it can provide clean energy for industries that are difficult to decarbonise through conventional renewable energy sources.

While green hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity with virtually no carbon emissions, blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas with carbon dioxide captured and stored, significantly reducing its environmental impact.

Countries including Germany, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea have invested billions of dollars in hydrogen technologies, viewing the fuel as a cornerstone of future economic growth and energy security.

For Nigeria, whose economy remains heavily dependent on crude oil exports despite possessing one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, the hydrogen policy represents a strategic attempt to transform existing energy resources into a platform for sustainable industrialisation and economic diversification.

Energy analysts believe that if effectively implemented, the policy could stimulate new investments in manufacturing, fertiliser production, steel, chemicals, transport and power generation while opening export opportunities in global clean energy markets.

It could also help Nigeria strengthen its energy transition agenda by balancing continued utilisation of natural gas with increasing investments in renewable energy, thereby ensuring economic growth while meeting international climate obligations.

With the validation completed, attention now shifts to the National Economic Council and the Federal Executive Council, whose approvals are expected to clear the way for implementation of what many stakeholders describe as one of Nigeria’s most ambitious clean energy policies in recent years.

Nigeria Moves to Harness Hydrogen Economy as FG Validates Landmark Clean Energy Policy