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  • Featured in Physics
  • Open Access

Drivers of Sustainability Education and Green Vocational Education and Training in Africa's Solar Sector: A Case Study of Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda

Norbert Edomah*

  • *Contact author: nedomah@pau.edu.ng
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PRX Energy 4, 043011 – Published 9 December, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/kyt5-r138

Abstract

Although 43% of Africa’s population (amounting to about 600 million people) have no access to electricity, Africa still has 40% of the global potential for solar power. In 2022, Africa produced 12 641 MW of electricity from solar energy, amounting to 1.2% of the global production of solar electricity. Of this, 11 516 MW was from solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. The massive deployment of solar PV technology in Africa to address energy access also poses a challenge of lack of skilled manpower in the sector. What factors drive and influence Africa’s solar sector manpower provision and in what ways are African stakeholders addressing this? Using mixed-method research, interviews (individual and focus group), and published literature and policy documents, we considered Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda as our focus countries of study. Our study revealed (1) the complexity of the existing regulatory and governance frameworks and how they impact solar skills training, (2) the challenges of greening solar technical and vocational education and training in Africa, and (3) best practices in solar technical education delivery within the African continent that other stakeholders could learn from. We conclude by highlighting how addressing the identified challenges can lead Africa toward a more sustainable energy transition path.

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Training Africa’s Solar-Energy Labor Force

Published 9 December, 2025

Engineer Nobert Edomah discusses plans to develop the workforce needed to unlock the solar potential of Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda.

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Popular Summary

Africa's solar sector urgently needs stronger sustainability education initiatives. With increasing levels of solar photovoltaic installations across Africa in the forms of mini-grids and off-grid systems, it has become necessary to consider some pertinent questions. Who will maintain these systems? How do we empower the African youth with skills to fill the new emerging opportunities? In this study, the author explores the drivers of sustainability education in Africa by focusing on three countries of Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda. The study highlights how gaps in skills, training quality, regulation, financing, awareness, and infrastructure influence the effectiveness of sustainability education in Africa's solar sector. In conclusion, sharing knowledge across countries is key to overcoming workforce shortages and driving innovation in Africa's solar and clean energy sectors.

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PRX Energy 4, 043011– Published 9 December, 2025
  • Received 2 May 2025
  • Accepted 6 November 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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