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During my NYSC year in Ondo State, I learned to appreciate the quiet beauty of rural Nigeria in a way city life never allowed. Ondo, with its lush vegetation, red earth roads, evening markets, and the gentle, welcoming spirit of its people, held a charm I did not expect. I was serving as a schoolteacher, and on one long, uneventful afternoon, I decided I needed an adventure.
A friend suggested that we visit Ikogosi Warm Springs in neighbouring Ekiti State, a place often spoken of by other youth corpers. Known for its rare phenomenon of warm and cold springs flowing side-by-side, Ikogosi had a mythical presence in our conversations, but I had never truly understood what made it special.
So, we boarded a rattling commercial bus toward Ado-Ekiti. The journey took us through rolling green landscapes, thick forests, quiet villages, and winding roads. When we finally arrived at Ikogosi, I was struck by the serenity: warm water bubbling gently from the earth, steam rising delicately above the surface, surrounded by towering trees. I remember thinking, this place feels magical.
I left Ikogosi with photographs and memories, never knowing that hidden beneath those warm springs was something far more significant- a clue to one of the most powerful renewable energy sources in the world: geothermal energy. Almost Fourteen years later, while researching renewable energy pathways, I remembered Ikogosi. This time, not as a tourist site to quench boredom, but as evidence that Nigeria may possess geothermal potential waiting to be explored.
Geothermal energy is heat stored beneath the earth’s crust. Countries tap this heat by drilling wells into underground reservoirs of steam or hot water, using it to generate electricity or industrial heat. Unlike solar or wind, geothermal does not depend on weather.
It is constant, stable, and renewable, making it one of the most reliable energy systems globally.
Today, geothermal energy is most successful in East Africa, thanks to the tectonic activity of the Great Rift Valley. Kenya remains Africa’s geothermal champion, generating more than 860 MW of electricity and supplying nearly half of the country’s power. Its Olkaria Geothermal Plant is one of the largest in the world. Ethiopia, Djibouti, Rwanda, and Tanzania are also pursuing geothermal expansion through exploratory drilling and early commercial wells.
Surprisingly, Nigeria has geothermal indicators in several regions: Ikogosi Warm Springs in Ekiti, Wikki Warm Springs in Bauchi, the Benue Trough, Cross River regions, and deeper sedimentary basins with elevated geothermal gradients. Scientific studies show these areas have higher-than-normal heat flow, suggesting the possibility of underground reservoirs capable of electricity generation. But unlike Kenya, Nigeria has never drilled deep geothermal exploration wells to confirm commercial temperatures.
With proper planning, research, and investment, Nigeria could generate geothermal energy, starting with developing small pilot plants within a decade. In the long long, geothermal harness could add reliable power to support industries, cities, and the national grid.
State governments have an especially important role to play. States like Ekiti, Bauchi, Cross River, Plateau and those along the Benue Trough can commission geological surveys, partner with universities, and collaborate with global geothermal developers. By leading exploration within their boundaries, these states can create new revenue streams, selling geothermal power to the national grid or supplying industrial clusters. Just as oil transformed the Niger Delta, geothermal could unlock economic growth for states with naturally occurring heat beneath their soil. The economic model is simple: states that invest early stand to become regional energy suppliers within Nigeria.
Geothermal energy offers Nigeria several key advantages: it runs 24 hours a day, produces low emissions, requires little land, and is less vulnerable to sabotage. It also complements solar power perfectly, creating a stable energy mix that can reduce reliance on diesel and gas.
Challenges remain. Geothermal exploration requires drilling, which is expensive. Nigeria also needs stronger long-term planning, technical training, and political commitment. Yet these obstacles are not unique; Kenya faced all of them and succeeded through persistence and consistent investment over decades.
To unlock this opportunity, Nigeria must develop a national geothermal roadmap, drill exploration wells in promising zones, launch a 5–10 MW pilot plant, and introduce incentives for private investors. Government-backed risk-sharing is also essential.
When I think back to my NYSC trip to Ikogosi, I realize I visited not just a tourist site, but a glimpse of what Nigeria could become. Beneath those warm springs lies steady, ancient and renewable heat – the kind of resource nations build industrial revolutions upon.
Geothermal energy will not solve Nigeria’s electricity crisis overnight. But with vision, science, and political courage, it could become one of the most reliable pillars of Nigeria’s energy future. Perhaps someday, when Nigerians speak of Ikogosi, it will not just be about the magic of warm and cold water springs, but about the moment we discovered the power beneath our feet.
•Emeka-Okanu is a senior finance and energy-transition specialist.
