60 WEST AFRICAN STUDENTS RECEIVE FULL GERMAN GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL MASTER’S IN GREEN HYDROGEN

WASCAL, with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has awarded full scholarship in International Master’s Programme in Energy and Green Hydrogen to 60 students from all 15 West African countries.

Speaking at the official launch in Niamey, Niger which brought together government officials, diplomatic corps and the academic community together, the Green Hydrogen Commissioner, Dr. Stefan Kaufmann made a case for the future of energy in Africa with regard to green hydrogen, and the need for the scholars to tap into it.

“With green hydrogen, WASCAL is taking up a mega topic of the future, not only for research and education. Many hopes are associated with it. Hardly a day goes by without reports about green hydrogen. And this from all over the world. Green hydrogen has the chance to become the oil and gas of the future. It is a game changer for the future global energy supply. Wind, solar and water are becoming geopolitical factors. We are at the beginning of a huge energy transition. Africa could become a new global player in the emerging green energy market. This is a historic opportunity and challenge. It brings along new opportunities for a better global climate, but more importantly, for Africa’s sustainable development.” He spoke.

The minister of Higher Education and Research in Niger, Prof. Mamadou Djibo, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to WASCAL for identifying Niger and West Africa in general as a major partner in its quest to make green hydrogen the global change maker.

The Executive Director of WASCAL, Dr. Moumini Savadogo, expressed delight about the successful path WASCAL is charting together with BMBF,

“The potential success of green hydrogen in the future in Africa. WASCAL in partnership with BMBF has set a path that will definitely grow to become the game change in Africa’s economy, especially the energy sector.  Our commitment in ensuring excellence results remains unwavering. “

Key personalities like the Vice Chancellor of Universite Abdou Moumini, Executive Director of ECOWAS/ECREEE, the German Ambassador to Niger, West African ambassadors to Niger, Directors from WASCAL Graduate Studies Programme and other dignitaries.

The international master’s Programme that has been couched to prepare the next generation of leaders to tackle the energy challenges of adaptation and resilience to Climate Change in West Africa. The programme equally allows for a comprehensive analysis of contemporary energy infrastructures, policies and practices in a Changing Climate world and the search for sustainable solutions in West Africa.

The two-year IMP-EGH master‘s programme, established by WASCAL together with its German partners, has been developed based on existing WASCAL graduate studies programmes. Through the programme, the project partners aim to train students on the basis of international standards and best practices, covering the entire value chain for green hydrogen – from production and storage to utilization.

Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University provide support in teaching and supervising students through online tools and on-site visits. In addition, students will spend a semester in Germany to gain practical experience and write their master‘s thesis.