BUK (Bayero University Kano) Moves to Develop Alternative Source of Energy

Concerned with excessive deforestation and land degradation, Bayero University will develop an alternative source of domestic energy other than wood-fuel.

At a four-day International Conference with the theme: Future of Energy Use in Nigeria’s Dry Land: Challenges and Opportunities, stakeholders from academia, NGOs, farmers, communities, environmentalists and government agencies  have proposed different sources of energy for sustainable environmental management.

The conference, which took place from 12^th to 15^th November, 2012 was coordinated by the Geography Department and the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Management Science, Professor Adamu Tanko.

On the second day of the conference, tagged “the DelPHE Day”, the Dean of SMS shared a video clip of his field report on Urban Growth, Domestic Fuel and Sustainable Forestry in Kano, while Nuratu Muhammad and Mrs. Mairo Haruna displayed their field report on Gender Perspective.

Similarly, Reginald Cline Cole of the University of Birmingham and Roy Maconachie from the University of Bath demonstrated their research, which spanned over 25 years on the use of woodfuel as an energy source in the majority of houses in Kano and recommended either its replacement or tapping its potential to serve as an alternative to fossil fuel.

Earlier at the opening ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, mni, MFR, said the conference was part of the collaborative activities involving Bayero University, the University of Bath and the University of Birmingham, U. K. under the Development Partnerships for Higher Education (DelPHE), funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the UKaid through the British Council.

He remarked that the linkage has been of immense benefit to the Academic development of staff in the Geography Department over the past two years and appreciated the financial assistance from the linkage, whose agreement expires in March 2013.

Several key papers were presented at the workshop and the Coordinator, Professor Tanko promised that a communiqué on the conference would soon be published.