13/04/2026
Monday, April 13, 2026
*Mustafa Olawuyi Foundation Launches 8-Week Solar Installation Training Programme, Calls for Youth Empowerment, Integrity and Clean Energy Innovation*
Ikirun, Osun State, Nigeria — Mustafa Olawuyi Foundation (M*F) has officially launched its 8-week Solar Installation Training Programme, a practical youth empowerment initiative aimed at equipping participants with relevant technical skills in renewable energy, promoting self-reliance, and advancing sustainable community development in Nigeria.
Organised in collaboration with Basic Hi-Tech, the programme brings together young participants for intensive instruction in solar installation, system design, safety, maintenance, troubleshooting, and entrepreneurship. The initiative forms part of the Foundation’s broader commitment to education, skills acquisition, youth development, and impactful service.
Speaking at the official opening, Engr. Mustafa Adeleke Olawuyi, Founder of the Foundation, stressed the urgent need to empower young people through practical and future-oriented skills. He said Nigeria must move beyond dependence on imported systems toward building local technical competence and productive capacity.
“We must not continue to be mere consumers of modern technology,” he said. “Our young people must be trained to understand it, install it, maintain it, and, in the long run, contribute to its local production and improvement.”
He urged the participants to take the training seriously and to see it as more than a short-term opportunity.
“This programme is not just about learning how to fix solar panels. It is about preparing you for a future of dignity, productivity, and service,” Engr. Olawuyi said. “If you learn well and remain focused, this skill can feed you, support your family, and make you useful to your community.”
He also emphasized the place of truthfulness and honesty in business and professional life.
“Truthfulness in business transactions is not negotiable,” he added. “If you are honest with customers, they will trust you. If they trust you, they will return to you. Integrity is not only a moral value; it is the foundation of lasting success.”
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Oladimeji Enoch of Osun State University delivered an orientation on energy, electricity, and the strategic relevance of solar power in Nigeria. He explained that access to reliable energy remains central to economic productivity, education, healthcare, and daily life, and that solar energy presents one of the most practical solutions to Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges.
“Energy is the driver of development, and electricity is one of the most visible expressions of that energy in modern life,” he said. “Without reliable electricity, businesses struggle, schools are limited, and healthcare delivery becomes more difficult.”
Dr. Enoch noted that Nigeria’s abundant sunlight places the country in a strong position to benefit from renewable energy if the right human capacity is developed.
“Solar energy is not just an alternative; for Nigeria, it is increasingly a necessity,” he said. “We have the natural resource. What we need is the technical knowledge, the discipline, and the commitment to use it well.”
He also used the occasion to encourage participants to build their careers on good character.
“Skill without character is dangerous,” Dr. Enoch said. “As you learn this trade, let integrity, humility, and discipline grow with your knowledge. A person who has skill and good character will always stand out.”
In his contribution, Alhaji Lateef Arowolo spoke on the importance of financial literacy in the journey from skill acquisition to sustainable livelihood. He said many young people fail in business not because they lack skill, but because they lack the discipline and knowledge to manage money well.
“A good skill can open the door, but financial literacy helps you remain inside the room,” he said. “If you cannot manage income, plan expenses, save, and reinvest, your business will struggle no matter how talented you are.”
He also drew attention to the importance of ethical and accessible financing for small businesses.
“Interest-free loans can play a major role in helping small business owners grow without being crushed by repayment pressure,” Alhaji Arowolo said. “What we need are financial systems that support productivity, not systems that trap people in endless debt.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of M*F, Engr. Abdul Akeem Olawuyi, described the training as one of the Foundation’s strategic interventions for 2026 and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to moving beyond speeches into practical impact.
“This training is very important to us because it speaks directly to youth empowerment, clean energy, and economic opportunity,” he said. “We are not just training participants to pass time; we are preparing them to become useful, productive, and employable.”
He further outlined the Foundation’s support plan for participants and communities.
“M*F is committed to offering more than classroom teaching,” Engr. Abdul Akeem Olawuyi said. “We want to create a pathway that includes mentoring, practical exposure, and support that can help participants apply what they learn in real life.”
He added that the solar training programme fits within the Foundation’s wider development agenda.
“This is part of our broader vision to serve communities through education, welfare, sustainability, and practical empowerment,” he said. “We want our impact to be visible, useful, and lasting.”
Providing a technical orientation, Engr. Abdulazeez Awotunde focused strongly on the issue of safety in solar installation services, reminding participants that technical skill must always be matched with strict safety consciousness.
“In solar installation, safety comes first before speed, and safety comes first before confidence,” he said. “A good technician is not the one who works fastest, but the one who works correctly and safely.”
He warned participants against casual attitudes toward electrical systems and installation tools.
“Do not joke with electricity, and do not assume that familiarity removes danger,” Engr. Awotunde said. “Protective equipment, correct wiring, proper testing, and disciplined handling of tools are essential in this profession.”
He encouraged the participants to build a strong safety culture from the beginning of their training.
“If you learn safety now as a habit, it will stay with you throughout your career,” he said. “That habit will protect you, your colleagues, your clients, and the systems you install.”
The Foundation also confirmed that Engr. Bashir Olawuyi, General Manager of Basic Hi-Tech, has been assigned to lead the 8-week training programme. Under his supervision, participants will receive a combination of classroom instruction and practical exposure covering solar energy systems, electrical basics, installation techniques, maintenance, troubleshooting, and entrepreneurship.
Mustafa Olawuyi Foundation described the programme as a constructive response to youth unemployment, unreliable energy access, and the need for locally driven technical solutions. By investing in solar training, the Foundation aims to help participants build livelihoods, support clean energy adoption, and contribute positively to their communities.
The Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to its guiding motto, “Truth. Service. Impact.”, and expressed confidence that the programme will produce not only technically capable participants but also disciplined and ethical young professionals.
For further information, media enquiries, partnership support, or donations, please contact:
Mustafa Olawuyi Foundation (M*F)
Phone: 08064507311 | 08032863152
Email: [email protected]
Website: mustafaolawuyifoundation.org
