Professor Abel Olajide Olorunnisola, the Vice Chancellor of Dominion University, is a leading researcher in renewable energy technology. With over 30 years of experience, he has dedicated his career to exploring sustainable energy alternatives. In an exclusive interview with Modupe George, he discusses his contributions to renewable energy, the challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, and the growth of Dominion University. His research into bamboo-based charcoal, biogas, and solar energy aims to provide eco-friendly alternatives while reducing deforestation. He highlights the potential of bamboo as a renewable source for charcoal, emphasizing its rapid growth cycle compared to traditional wood. His work also extends to biogas, which can be generated from waste materials like poultry droppings and cow dung, offering a cost-effective and sustainable energy solution.

Despite his innovations, Professor Olorunnisola acknowledges that Nigeria has been slow to adopt renewable energy solutions on a national scale. He stresses the need for government intervention in integrating solar energy into the national grid. According to him, while many Nigerians already utilize solar power, the challenge lies in the lack of a structured system to feed excess energy into the grid. He cites examples from China and Kenya, where large-scale solar farms efficiently supply electricity. He believes that with proper policies and investments, Nigeria can harness its abundant sunlight to address chronic electricity shortages and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Professor Olorunnisola also discusses the need for a shift in academic research and its practical application in Nigeria. He criticizes the lack of engineering extension programs, arguing that universities should have professionals dedicated to field research and community education. Unlike in other countries where engineering extension workers apply research findings to solve real-world problems, Nigeria focuses primarily on theoretical research with little real-world application. He advocates for a system that recognizes research-based outreach as part of university promotion criteria. Without this change, he warns, many groundbreaking innovations in Nigerian universities will remain unutilized.

As Vice Chancellor of Dominion University, Professor Olorunnisola has spearheaded remarkable progress in the institution’s growth. Since its inception five years ago, the university has expanded from two to three faculties, adding the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences. The university has produced over 250 graduates, with significant investments in infrastructure and academic resources. The institution hosted its first international conference in 2024, in collaboration with CISCO Systems, drawing participants from Ghana and Egypt. The university has also established partnerships with foreign institutions, including an exchange program with a university in Greece, enabling students and staff to gain international exposure.

Addressing the financial challenges faced by private universities in Nigeria, Professor Olorunnisola emphasizes the need for government support in research funding. While acknowledging that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) primarily supports public institutions, he argues that private universities should also benefit from research grants. He points out that leading private universities globally receive government-backed research funding, and Nigeria should adopt a similar approach. Despite these challenges, Dominion University has secured international grants, with faculty members winning scholarships for doctoral and post-doctoral studies abroad. As the university continues to grow, Professor Olorunnisola remains committed to fostering innovation and bridging the gap between academic research and real-world applications.