The Asteven Energy Institute has made history by holding its maiden matriculation ceremony for 17 pioneer students of the 2024/2025 academic session.
The students are the first in the country to undertake a National Diploma in Solar Technology and Management.
Held on Friday, August 8, 2025, the event went beyond the traditional gowns and oaths, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s renewable energy capacity-building efforts.
For Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, President and Founder of the Asteven Group, the ceremony was the realisation of a long-held dream.
“To see this dream come true with a generation that will transform Nigeria’s energy revolution is deeply fulfilling,” Akpoyibo said.
He recalled Nigeria’s missed opportunities in the renewable energy sector – vast sums invested in energy access projects with little to show in terms of skilled manpower development.
“In Nigeria today, billions of dollars have come in for access to energy for underserved communities,” he said, citing examples of $550 million and $750 million investments in successive years.
“But we must ask ourselves: who utilised the money? Where was the professional labour force to execute these projects?” he asked rhetorically.
He lamented that, unlike the UK and Germany, which had certified solar technology professionals, Nigeria still lacked a trained and accredited workforce.
He stressed that the Asteven Energy Institute was created to fill that void.
“This is the first in Nigeria to be approved by the National Board for Technical Education and the Ministry of Education for a National Diploma in Solar Technology,” he declared.
“You are the future of the 2050 net-zero goals we talk about. The time will come when you won’t be looking for jobs – the jobs will look for you.”
The president revealed that the development of the curriculum took two and a half years and costs ₦35 million.
“The curriculum we developed here in Nigeria has now been adopted in India,” he noted, underscoring its quality and relevance.
“This journey is bigger than a certificate,” Akpoyibo said.
“It’s about setting standards, creating a legacy, and powering communities with clean energy.”
Akpoyibo commended the parents, guardians, and dignitaries in attendance for believing in the Institute’s vision.
He gave special recognition to former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who inaugurated the Institute during his tenure.
The Rector of the Institute, Prof. Magnus Onuoha, described the matriculation as a milestone that moved the institute beyond the short certificate courses it had offered since 2018.
“With this programme, we are producing graduates for the renewable energy workforce,” he said.
“Our vision is clear – to raise a generation of green professionals who are globally competitive.”
Onuoha noted that since its inception, Asteven Energy Institute had trained over 3,000 individuals in solar technology solutions across its campuses in Lagos, Abuja, and Warri.
But the introduction of the diploma programme, the rector emphasised, represented a “bold step” in Nigeria’s quest for clean energy self-sufficiency.
Addressing the 17 matriculating students, Akpoyibo and Onuoha issued a joint charge: to be focused, disciplined, and relentless in their pursuit of excellence.
The graduates of its National Diploma in Solar Technology and Management will not only meet Nigeria’s renewable energy manpower needs but will also shape the country’s contribution to the global fight against climate change.
As the applause rang out and the new students donned their matriculation gowns, one thing was clear.
These 17 young men and women are not just students – they are the torchbearers of Nigeria’s clean energy future.