The Senate of Obafemi Awolowo University on 26 May 2023 approved Energy Systems Science and Engineering postgraduate programmes at five different levels, namely, Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master of Technology (M.Tech.) (i.e. professional/taught masters), Master of Science (M.Sc.) (i.e. research masters), Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) to be a One-Stop-Shop for capacity building on construction, financing and management of energy and/or energy-related projects. The capacity building takes into context variability issues. The programme brings together expertise in science and engineering, economics, finance and politics under one roof, recognizing these combinations as being core to achieving net-zero emission economy. The programme intends to meet both front- and back-end capacity needs for Nigeria’s and countries in West Africa’s energy transition plan. Energy Systems Science and Engineering programmes are hosted by the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and coordinated by Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Centre for Energy Research and Development.

Two of the courses, Mini-Grids: Planning and Design and Local Solutions for Energy Access to be taught at M.Tech and M.Sc. levels are adapted under Transforming Energy Access – Learning Partnership (TEA-LP), a project  with the University of Cape Town (UCT), Cape Town, South Africa.

Mini-Grids: Planning and Design

This multidisciplinary course aims to provide a framework for understanding the mini-grid sector, enabling the graduate to assess its challenges and to offer potential solutions. After completion of the course, the students should be able to identify the most suitable mechanisms to promote and implement clean energy mini grids in their environments. The course will offer the following topics, suitable for non-technical students: Business models: demand creation, productive use, financing; Mini-grid systems: generation, storage, DC technology; Regulation and Policy; Demand assessment and community engagement; Future options – grid integration vs DRE; smart mini-grids: peer-to-peer democratization, digitalization. In addition, the course includes an optional unit on system design/sizing and economic modeling tools.

Local Solutions for Energy Access

This multi-disciplinary, non-technical course aims to provide the Masters level students with a framework to analyze the local/regional DRE sector, to assess its challenges and to offer potential solutions. It aims to give students an introduction to the big picture of energy access opportunities The course will use a systems approach and introduce the students to key actors in the local and regional energy access landscape. The course will be made up of the following; Distributed energy systems (DES) and options for the Future, Environmental Stewardship (eWaste solutions, etc); The enabling environment: Policy & Regulation – from global to local; Business models for increasing community income, Demand assessment and community engagement, Finance for the DRE sector.

Bios of Obafemi Awolowo University Transforming Energy Access Learning Partnership Team

(Bios for OAU TEA-LP Teams)

Professor John-Felix Kayode AKINBAMI

J-F.K. Akinbami, PhD – is a Research Professor at the Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is presently the Director of the Centre Prof. Akinbami has a Ph.D. in Technology Management (specializing in Energy and Environmental Management) and M.Sc. (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering) from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, Nigeria and B.Sc. (Engineering Physics) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He teaches at various departments in the university on various aspects of Energy and Climate Change Issues. He is involved in the development of 5 (five) new postgraduate educational programmes in Energy System Science and Engineering from Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) to Ph.D. level. The programmes housing TEA-LP courses. Prof Akinbami’s research focus includes Energy and Environmental Management; Energy Systems Modeling, Energy Policy and Analysis, Energy Efficiency, Energy and Building, Electricity Sector Reform, Restructuring and Regulation, Alternative Energy Resources, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Study. He has publications in diverse local and international journals He had consulted for both national and international organizations including European Commission, African Development Bank, World Bank, Nigeria National Planning Commission, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). John-Felix was a Senior Associate of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy and a member of various professional bodies including Quality Control Society of Nigeria (QCSON), Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN), African Wind Energy Association (AfriWEA). He is also a member of Nigerian Association of Energy Economics and the International Association of Energy Economics.

Professor Elizabeth Funmilayo ARANSIOLA

Engineer Elizabeth Funmilayo Aransiola is a Professor of Chemical Engineering. She holds a B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa from 2011-2013. Her research foci are in the areas of Biochemical and Reaction Engineering with emphasis on renewable energy systems.  She has been able to utilize biomass for energy generation to solve two key societal problems of environmental cleanliness and provision of affordable energy. She coordinates the postgraduate programmes in the Department of Chemical Engineering as well as being a member of the Postgraduate Committee in her Faculty. She contributed to the development of Energy Systems Science and Engineering programmes spanning Postgraduate Diploma to Doctoral degree. The two TEA-LP courses that Obafemi Awolowo University is involved in the Partnership are embedded in these programmes at Taught and Research Master’s degree levels.

Dr.  Olusoji Olusola ILORI

Dr. Olusoji O. Ilori completed his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees at the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. In 2001 and 2003, he served as a Young Collaborator at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. From 2018 to 2020, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Vacuum Nanoelectronics Group at the Microsystems Technology Laboratories, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. Currently, he is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, where he also holds the position of Acting Head of Department. Dr. Ilori’s teaching and research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including electronic materials, devices, circuits, and systems for information and energy processing. His expertise extends to areas such as 2D materials, semiconductor devices, nano and microelectronics, thin film electronics and electronic instrument design.

Associate Professor Omotayo A. AREGBESOLA

Dr. Omotayo A. Aregbesola is an Associate Professor of Postharvest Engineering with special emphasis on appropriate processing, storage and handling systems for food systems. She holds both undergraduate (B.Sc.) and graduate (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) degrees in Agricultural Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. She is the currently one of the lead researchers/lecturers of the postharvest subdivision in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, having put in more than two decades of service in the department. In recent years, Dr. Omotayo Aregbesola has been passionate about the use of alternate sources of energy for postharvest systems. This has led to the studies on harnessing the use of solar energy, in particular for food systems, this has led to the supervision of a number of graduate and undergraduate students in this area. Dr. Aregbesola looks forward to contributing to TEA-LP courses in the area of energy monitoring, evaluation and adaptation, especially for optimising energy usage in food handling systems.

Associate Professor Abiodun Suleiman MOMODU

Dr Abiodun S. Momodu is an Associate Professor of Energy Systems Planning and Environmental Management. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. (Technology Management) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. His Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering is from University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. He is the Head of Division of Energy Management and Technology, Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He pioneered the use of System Dynamics in Obafemi Awolowo University to conduct analysis of his doctoral dissertation and contributed to studies in area of infrastructure development, particularly in electricity sector and environmental management. He did Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana under the auspices of Association of Commonwealth Universities and African Academy of Sciences. He is involved in the development of Energy Systems Science and Engineering programmes for capacity building, with specific focus to contribute to sustainable energy transition. The two TEA-LP courses are embedded in these programmes at two Master degree levels which he co-coordinates at the University. His research interests are in energy systems modelling, seeking to localize solutions to energy challenges. He is also an Editor with Scientific African, a journal published by Elsevier.

Dr. Abimbola Muhideen JUBRIL

Dr. Abimbola M. Jubril received the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in 1996, 2002, and 2007, respectively. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. His research interests include robust control, application of multi-objective optimization in control and power systems, and instrumentation systems.