Accra, 13th May 2025
West Africa has taken a bold step towards sustainable energy transformation with the commissioning of a new green hydrogen and energy research facility at Abdou Moumouni University in Dar ES Salam, Niger. Constructed at a cost of €3 million, the centre is set to drive innovation in clean energy and serve as a regional hub for scientific collaboration and advanced research.
Developed through the partnership of WASCAL, the Government of Niger, and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany (BMBF), the facility houses a 500-seat conference auditorium, 48 architecturally modern student hostels, a guest house accommodating over 30 visitors, a restaurant, and an integrated student campus with 2 classrooms of 150 seat each. It is also the home of the International Master’s Programme in Green Hydrogen and Energy, serving as a living lab for sustainable energy systems, waste management, and material science.
Niger’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Saidou Mamadou, described the launch as a turning point for the country’s green energy ambition. “Green hydrogen holds great potential for Niger, not just as an energy source, but as a strategic driver for sustainable development. This WASCAL facility is a symbol of our commitment to lead by example, and to place science and innovation at the centre of our response to climate change,” he said.
Representing the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Prof. Christoph Rövekamp commended the partnership that made the facility possible. “Through cooperation with leading research institutions such as Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, we are creating a unique environment for knowledge and innovation in Niger. The Da’e Salam Energy Village, where water, food, and energy are interlinked through research, will improve lives and serve as a model for the Sahel region,” he said.
The Executive Director of WASCAL, Prof. Emmanuel Wendsongré Ramdé, reaffirmed the organisation’s mission to provide African-led solutions to climate challenges. “We are not just opening a building. We are creating a space where Africa’s brightest minds will shape the continent’s clean future of energy. This centre reflects our vision of excellence, regional integration, and impact through research and training,” he stated.
This facility is more than infrastructure. It is a symbol of a shared commitment to empower future generations with the tools, knowledge, and capacity to address energy poverty, climate vulnerability, and development challenges across West Africa.
As the centre opens its doors to students, researchers, and international experts, it is expected to serve as a regional reference point for clean energy and green hydrogen. The collaboration behind its establishment reinforces a growing continental commitment to climate action through science, education, and strategic partnerships.
Niger is one of the founding member countries of the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), playing a key role in advancing regional research and capacity building in climate and energy sciences. The country hosts WASCAL’s Doctoral Research Programme in Climate Change and Energy, as well as one of the four centres selected to run the flagship International Master’s Programme in Energy and Green Hydrogen (IMP-EGH).
The IMP-EGH is an innovative programme tailored for West Africa, designed to equip the next generation of scientists, policymakers, and energy experts with the skills and knowledge to address the region’s energy transition and climate resilience challenges. Through its interdisciplinary approach, the programme deepens understanding of current energy systems, policy frameworks, and practical strategies to build sustainable, climate-resilient energy solutions for the future.
