The rate of growth in rural communities’ socio-economic attributes and food production is being curtailed by energy shortage. Indeed, it cannot be overstated that entrepreneurship and innovation are important in advancing socio-economic attributes and agriculture business in Nigeria. To this end, energy is central to the success of agribusiness and poverty alleviation in rural communities. Direct community engagement through energy intervention, programmes and activities remains one of the core objectives of the Centre.
In a comprehensive and deliberate search for a collaborator in the provision of energy intervention in rural communities, the Centre identified the Department of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development (DAERD), University of Ibadan as a Department to partner with in an attempt to solve energy related problems in the community.
The maiden meeting between the Centre and DAERD which formalized the strategy to be adopted for the proposed Energy Research Village took place on Tuesday, 12th August 2014. In attendance at the meeting were Prof. A.E. Adekoya, Head of Department, DEARD; Temitope Oyawale; Prof. Ademola Ladele; Prof. J.O. Ladeji all of DEARD. The Centre was represented at the meeting by Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, Director, CPEEL; Prof. Akin Iwayemi, Principal Investigator, CPEEL; Dr. Olugbenga Falode, Deputy Director, CPEEL; Dr. Peter Obutte, Deputy Director, CPEEL; Dr. Oluwatosin Adeniyi; Dr. Adetunji Babatunde; Abayomi Daramola; Adeoluwa Adeniyi; Temitope Laniran; and Lilian Idiaghe.