Research Funding Issues in African Universities: Penalties and Pathways

Funding challenges, lack or shortage thereof, impede the institutionalisation and development of research e.g., doctoral studies in higher educational institutions (HEIs). In this paper, an appraisal of the state-of-the-art and fallouts arising from the lack of funding for PhD and institutional research in Africa’s HEIs is undertaken, following which the sustainability of existing research funding mechanisms is questioned. Of the fallouts, three issues are prioritised––brain drain, poor research output and depletion of supervisory capacity. In terms of brain drain, it is clear that Africa continues to suffer the loss of its ‘best and brightest brains’ because the research support structure needed to reintegrate or retain them is either weak or non-existent. With the exception of South Africa, a very low research throughput is generally breeding across the region because of unsustainable research funding mechanisms, mainly championed by international funding agencies. Then with a growing number of PhD intakes, the available supervisory capacity is equally being stretched to its limits with no hope in sight, granted that the rate at which the necessary PhD manpower is being produced is non-commensurate. Based on the highlighted fallouts, the overarching redress may lie in the sustainable enterprising and localisation of the huge funding potentials already coming from willing international donors so that it aligns with research problems prioritised by the continent’s political class

Renewable energy investment in Nigeria: A review of the Renewable Energy Master Plan

Data for investment into renewable energy resources in Nigeria is mainly unavailable due to over reliance on conventional resources for energy generation. However, recent developments in the energy sector have portrayed gradual attention to investments in renewable energy resources. This paper reviews the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) which identifies this improvement and presents a draft on how an increase in investment in renewable energy resources, which will in the long run balance the national energy equation, ensure energy security and promote sustainable development

Economic implications of constant power outages on SMEs in Nigeria

This paper is concerned with the unabated epileptic power (electric) delivery which is seen to be periodic with a struggling generation capacity and losses-prone inefficient transmission network in Nigeria. Ordinarily, it should mean that only an average Nigerian suffers directly, and only, the burden of this inefficiency, whereby electricity supply to power both household and commercial appliances becomes unpredictable. Yet, further studies have revealed that there is almost no other sector that this ineptitude does not impact indirectly, especially as adverse economic consequences. GDP per Capita versus electrical energy production data for Nigeria and selected countries for the year 2004 served as input parameters which underwent research validation. Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) were a case study in this paper. In the end, submissions are that apart from the internal devastating effect on SMEs, constant power outages have a major connection with the recent trends of big companies closing or relocating from Nigeria. To sum up, measures were suggested for improvement

Potentials of locally manufactured wound-field flux switching wind generator in South Africa

The China-based monopoly of high-energy permanent magnet materials used in modern wind generators impact the economic viability and local content value of most wind turbines installed in South Africa, especially large installations. It is possible to design with less expensive excitation technologies using locally-sourced wound-field electromagnets, which might promote local content. This study involves the optimum design performance comparison of the wound-field flux switching machine (WF-FSM) technology based on two variants – Design I and II (D-I and D-II) – the difference being in the arrangement of their DC wound-field coils. The machines are evaluated using finite element analyses (FEA) with optimum performance emphasised on design parameters such as torque density, efficiency and power factor. The selected design targets are meant to improve the performance to cost fidelity of the proposed wind generator variants. In 2D FEA, D-II can produce up to 18.8% higher torque density (kNm/m3) and 17.1% lesser loss per active volume (kW/m3) than D-I. In 3D FEA, the torque density of D-II remains higher at 10.6%, but its loss per active volume increases by 15% compared to D-I. The discrepancy observed in 2D and 3D FEA is due to an underestimation of the end-winding effects in D-II. The power factor of D-II is higher than D-I, both in 2D and 3D FEA, which may translate to lower kVA ratings and inverter costs. A higher total active mass ensues for the studied WF-FSMs than a conventional direct-drive PMSG, but avoiding rare earth PMs translate to significantly lower costs

Renewable energy investment in Nigeria: A review of the Renewable Energy Master Plan

Data for investment into renewable energy resources in Nigeria is mainly unavailable due to over reliance on conventional resources for energy generation. However, recent developments in the energy sector have portrayed gradual attention to investments in renewable energy resources. This paper reviews the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) which identifies this improvement and presents a draft on how an increase in investment in renewable energy resources, which will in the long run balance the national energy equation, ensure energy security and promote sustainable development

Economic implications of constant power outages on SMEs in Nigeria

This paper is concerned with the unabated epileptic power (electric) delivery which is seen to be periodic with a struggling generation capacity and losses-prone inefficient transmission network in Nigeria. Ordinarily, it should mean that only an average Nigerian suffers directly, and only, the burden of this inefficiency, whereby electricity supply to power both household and commercial appliances becomes unpredictable. Yet, further studies have revealed that there is almost no other sector that this ineptitude does not impact indirectly, especially as adverse economic consequences. GDP per Capita versus electrical energy production data for Nigeria and selected countries for the year 2004 served as input parameters which underwent research validation. Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) were a case study in this paper. In the end, submissions are that apart from the internal devastating effect on SMEs, constant power outages have a major connection with the recent trends of big companies closing or relocating from Nigeria. To sum up, measures were suggested for improvement

Impact of renewable energy deployment on climate change in Nigeria

It is well known fact that the rate of industrial growth of any country is a function of the amount of energy available in that country and the extent to which this energy is utilized. The burning of fossil fuels to generate energy is a dirty process. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions result when fossil fuels are produced and consumed and these emissions contribute to climate change. Nigeria as a country is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because its economy is mainly dependent on income generated from the production, processing, export and/or consumption of fossil fuels and its associated energy-intensive products. Hence, it is on this premise that this paper is researched to review the energy sources being used in Nigeria and investigate its impact to climate change. Findings reveal Nigeria’s over-dependence on fossil-generated energy with associated adverse environmental effects, among other things. Recommendations for the integration of renewable energy into Nigeria’s energy mix, beyond other measures, have been offered, especially with reference to the salient environmental benefits that accrue to it

Impact of renewable energy deployment on climate change in Nigeria

It is well known fact that the rate of industrial growth of any country is a function of the amount of energy available in that country and the extent to which this energy is utilized. The burning of fossil fuels to generate energy is a dirty process. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions result when fossil fuels are produced and consumed and these emissions contribute to climate change. Nigeria as a country is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because its economy is mainly dependent on income generated from the production, processing, export and/or consumption of fossil fuels and its associated energy-intensive products. Hence, it is on this premise that this paper is researched to review the energy sources being used in Nigeria and investigate its impact to climate change. Findings reveal Nigeria’s over-dependence on fossil-generated energy with associated adverse environmental effects, among other things. Recommendations for the integration of renewable energy into Nigeria’s energy mix, beyond other measures, have been offered, especially with reference to the salient environmental benefits that accrue to it

Harnessing Nigeria’s abundant solar energy potential using the DESERTEC model

The DESERTEC project, a European Union (EU) initiative to harness solar energy by means of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) from Africa for use in Europe, shows the enormous potential that exists in alternative energy sources for the sub-region once there is political will. The Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Corporation (TREC), a network of scientists and politicians who have taken it upon themselves to solve Europe’s energy problem using sun from Africa, conducted three studies which evaluated the potential of renewable energy resources in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the expected needs for water and power in EU-MENA between now and 2050 and issues relating to the construction of an electricity transmission grid connecting the EU and MENA (EU-MENA-Connection), with a formula to turn the North African desert sun into electricity and transport same to Europe. This paper harnesses the TREC fact-finding studies in order to estimate how much the same ideas can be applied in many other parts of the world, Nigeria in particular. Investigation reveals that this association exists with huge potentials for an energy-starved country like Nigeria in harnessing her abundant hot sun in the north, which could go a long way in meeting the energy needs in that part of the country and beyond. Other benefits include unlimited supplies of clean electricity, agricultural gains, and creation of new industries, new jobs and new sources of income

Economic implications of constant power outages on SMEs in Nigeria

Abstract This paper is concerned with the unabated epileptic power (electric