To say that energy is an indispensable part of man's existence is to state the obvious. Man’s survival is built on a narrative of energy supplies, at one time or the other. There has always been the need to power motors, engines, mechanical contraptions, computers all the way down a long line of power needs. And not unexpectedly, the energy needs of society have risen tremendously in the past decade. With the rise of technological advancement, digitization, robotics and heavy materials with large appetites for energy sources, the demands on the energy sector have become overwhelming.

For a long time too, we have known a common energy source for powering heavy materials and even household and other domestic needs- Crude. The liquid gold which was the fulcrum of the coinages, 'Dutch Disease' and 'Resource Curse', since its commercial discovery in the early 17^th century, has been the sole resource on which economies have depended. Yet, we have come to that point in human history though where the norm is no longer appreciable, where the realization is dawning, albeit slowly, that oil and money are not as important as the habitat in which we find ourselves. We are at the point where COP meetings on the environment and the Framework on Climate Change have become meetings to pay attention to. We are truly at the point where, as Paolo Bacigalupi describes in his novel, 'The Water Knife', 'water is becoming more valuable than gold'. This is that point where Kevin Reynolds' 'Waterworld' and Ronald Emmerich's 'The Day After Tomorrow', seen as mere conjectures and science fiction films some 10 years ago begin to make sense. So, inevitably, this is the point too, at which we begin to re-think power and think of green and clean, because the Earth is dying, and we only just –sadly- discovered it is our only ship, and there are no lifeboats, so if it is sinking, we sink with it.

I like the not-too-recent move by Total with the Awango solar lamps, not just because it is a laudable clean energy project, but because since 2015, there has been a major move to mainstream it in the smallest of communities, even here in Nigeria. A couple of other oil companies have also tapped into this renewable train. In fact, in an interview recently, the CEO of Shell, Ben Van Beurden enthused that the next vehicle he will buy will be an electric one. So it is undisputed that the world has realized a pressing need for clean and green energy. So what are the prospects for clean energy in Nigeria and is it possible for us to achieve it? I think there are great prospects, and this is not just an unsubstantiated opinion, there are facts and figures. Nigeria’s potential solar energy, (a whopping 320 -350 sunny days a year) if harnessed can power the nation steadily without power outage till the end of time. Or might we consider our bio-waste, realized from the 180 million people that the country hosts, or the high wind yield in many areas of the North like Katsina State and in coastal areas? How do we have these supplies and 55 percent of Nigerians do not even have access to electricity, not counting the lesser percentage that has access, but only see the electricity flash once in three months. Nigeria has high solar insulation which gives us prime conditions for the growth of solar as an energy source and it helps solve the problem of energy supply and distribution since it can be decentralized easily. The big question now is, why are we not there yet? Hear an economist, Jeremy Rifkin, who I think perfectly answers the question  'Nigeria is the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy sources, and if properly utilized, Nigeria can realise its place in the world as a great power- but political will is required for the eventual shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy' No one could have said it better. We lack the political will to make the move. Corruption and self-serving interests, underhanded deals and fossil anarchists have sat on the possibilities of clean and green energy.

The benefits of powering Nigeria with clean and green energy are enormous. One research showed that replacing generators with solar technology in Nigeria would eliminate 29 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. Can we then see what the average Nigerian is breathing in and out daily, inhaling noxious fumes, reducing life expectancy and increasing health hazards? This green energy can increase prosperity for millions of poor families, as Dr Patrick Owelle, a solar energy scholar has enthused.

This leaves the solution in the hands of every clean energy enthusiast. The World Bank estimates that breathing kerosene fumes is the equivalent of smoking two packets if cigarettes a day, so if you say you don’t smoke, think again.  This is why we all have to be clean energy enthusiasts. All of us. Every revolution is powered by a coterie of people. This is ours to power, this is our generation, our Earth. The COP 23 is in a few months. Let us participate and speak up for clean energy to power a clean and green world. I will like to reference a popular HBO series that has dominated our screens, Game of Thrones. Unknown to many, the series paints a clear picture, albeit diffidently, of climate change. You ask how? Here is how- the whitewalkers are mirror images of climate change and its effects, but only a few people have seen it while the rest laugh it off, and go about their lives, disbelieving and clamoring for thrones. The expression 'winter is coming' can be found on the lips of every GOT lover today. Maybe for a moment, it should not just be a cute line for memes and graphics in anticipation of Mondays, in August, maybe we should understand it for its underlying meaning- that a dreary period is coming, with Climate Change as the Night King.