Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has announced that 24 federal institutions have been equipped with solar power systems under the “Energising Education Project” spearheaded by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking at a Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony in Abuja with vice chancellors of the participating institutions, Alausa also revealed that eight more universities have entered into agreements to join the project’s fourth phase.
Ahead of the ceremony, the minister visited the solar facility at the University of Abuja—now renamed Yakubu Gowon University—highlighting the impact of the initiative. He described the project as a significant milestone for Nigeria, praising President Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring a steady power supply in federal tertiary institutions.
He explained that the University of Abuja is now home to a solar farm with 6,000 photovoltaic panels producing approximately 3.3 megawatts of electricity each day—enough to ensure uninterrupted power for the entire campus.
“This project brings continuous, 24-hour electricity to our institutions. It allows for increased academic activity, powers laboratories and libraries throughout the day and night, and improves living and learning conditions for both students and faculty,” he said.
The minister further pointed out that beyond academic benefits, the project has notable economic implications. “Any campus is a community by itself. With constant power supply, you unleash high economic activity,” he added.
He credited the Renewable Infrastructure Fund established by President Tinubu for financing the initiative and urged university administrators to find innovative ways to sustain the project. Alausa projected that by 2027, all tertiary institutions in Nigeria would be powered by renewable energy.
Rural Electrification Agency Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, also spoke at the event, disclosing that the project’s first three phases have reached over 600,000 students and 50,000 academic staff, generating more than 100 megawatts of electricity to serve university campuses and teaching hospitals.
He emphasized that the program had already delivered solar mini-grids to 24 federal universities and noted that the health sector is also benefiting from the initiative. Two universities and two teaching hospitals have been equipped under Phase 2 of the Universal Public Health Project.
Aliyu added that Phase 3, involving eight more universities and one additional teaching hospital, is nearing completion and is expected to be commissioned in the next two months.
The newly added institutions include Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Federal University Wukari, Taraba; Federal University Dutse; University of Benin; University of Ibadan; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and University of Lagos. (NAN)
What you should know
The Energising Education Project, part of President Tinubu’s infrastructure drive, is revolutionizing Nigeria’s federal universities with solar-powered electricity, enhancing academic operations, living standards, and economic activities on campuses.
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