A new climate-focused education initiative aimed at combating energy waste among young Nigerians has been launched in Abuja, with stakeholders calling for urgent behaviour change to address inefficiencies in energy consumption across the country.

The initiative, tagged “NextGen Energy Champions: Raising Africa’s Next Energy Sustainability Champions,” began on Thursday with the training of 50 students from five secondary schools in the capital. It is being led by Energy Savers Nigeria in partnership with Seedbuilders Innovation Hub and NIGENIUS Technologies Limited.

Speaking at the unveiling event held at the Seedbuilders Innovation Hub in Wuse 2, Abuja, National Project Coordinator Adeniyi Adeboye said the project seeks to reposition students as frontline advocates in Nigeria’s fight against climate change through energy efficiency.

“Energy efficiency is more than just turning off lights. It is smart planning that saves costs, stabilises the grid, and protects the environment. And we believe the next generation must lead this charge,” Adeboye said.

He noted that while national energy discourse often focuses on power generation and supply, energy usage is rarely addressed with the same urgency. “We have to reverse this trend. This programme will train students in practical areas like clean technology, energy conservation, and climate advocacy. Once trained, they will become certified Energy Champions,” he said.

The certification, to be issued by NIGENIUS Technologies, is part of a broader strategy to empower young Nigerians with both the knowledge and credentials to champion environmental responsibility in their communities.

According to Adeboye, the programme’s Abuja pilot is only the first step in a more ambitious plan to establish student-led Energy Savers Clubs in all 774 local government areas across Nigeria. “This program is not just a workshop. It’s the start of a national movement,” he said.

Adeboye also criticised the continued national dependence on fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel, describing it as a reflection of entrenched habits that the next generation must work to overcome. “People are stuck in outdated habits. Our aim is to educate and prove that efficient energy use is not only better for the environment but also more affordable,” he added.

Founder of Seedbuilders Innovation Hub, Olaoluwa Olorunnisomo, said the programme was designed to instil both knowledge and innovation in students by training them to approach energy challenges with practical solutions.

“We’re training kids to think about energy use in practical terms—how to reduce waste at school, at home, and in their communities. They’ll also take part in hackathons where they develop real solutions to Nigeria’s energy problems,” he said.

Olorunnisomo revealed that the coalition aims to reach over one million students nationwide, cultivating a generation of climate-conscious citizens. “We’re starting small, but we aim to impact over a million kids across Nigeria. These students will become the engineers, climate champions, and innovators of the future,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Kelechi Uchenna, CEO of NIGENIUS Technologies, said integrating energy efficiency education into the school system is a long-term objective. “The first step is raising awareness. From there, we will engage with the Ministries of Education and relevant stakeholders to integrate this into the national curriculum.

Students must understand the impact of energy waste and how they can be part of the solution,” Uchenna stated.

The programme launch comes amid growing concern over Nigeria’s power inefficiencies. Organisers cited data suggesting that between 30 and 40 percent of electricity generated nationally is wasted due to poor infrastructure, energy theft, and inefficient consumption practices. They warned that reducing such waste is not just an environmental imperative but also a matter of national development and economic resilience.

With climate risks mounting and electricity demand rising, the organisers say the need to develop a digitally aware, energy-conscious youth population is now more urgent than ever.