Rethinking clean energy utilisation for climate change mitigation and sustainable development in Nigeria: The imperative of community inclusion, mass education and public policy initiatives

The accelerating impacts of climate change, driven largely by dependence on fossil fuels, have heightened the urgency for a transition to clean energy systems, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. Despite Nigeria’s vast renewable energy potential especially in solar, wind, and biomass clean energy utilisation remains significantly low due to structural, socio- economic, and policy-related constraints. This study rethinks clean energy utilisation as a critical pathway for climate change mitigation and sustainable development, emphasizing the imperative of community inclusion, mass education, and coherent public policy initiatives. Adopting a qualitative and analytical approach, the paper draws on secondary data sources, including policy documents, scholarly literature, and reports from international development agencies. The study interrogates the existing gaps in clean energy adoption in Nigeria, identifying key barriers such as limited public awareness, weak institutional frameworks, inadequate financing mechanisms, and minimal community participation in energy planning and implementation. It argues that top-down energy policies have largely failed to achieve widespread adoption due to insufficient grassroots engagement and lack of context-specific education strategies. Findings reveal that communities with higher levels of awareness and participatory involvement demonstrate greater acceptance and utilisation of clean energy technologies, thereby contributing to reduced carbon emissions and improved livelihoods. The study concludes that aligning clean energy strategies with community-driven approaches and sustained educational campaigns can significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to mitigate climate change while achieving long-term sustainability goals. It recommends the institutionalization of community-based energy programs, integration of clean energy education into formal and informal systems, and the strengthening of policy coherence to support an inclusive energy transition.