FG powers Abuja varsity with 3MW solar project

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 3MW solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, to bolster electricity supply for teaching, research, laboratories and other critical operations. The project, a part of Phase II of the Energising Education Programme, was launched on Wednesday by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, alongside the Rural Electrification Agency and the World Bank-funded Nigeria Electrification Project.

Tegbe, who expressed his delight at returning to his former university, highlighted the significance of aligning energy investments with human capital development. He noted that the facility, which combines a 3.3 MW solar array with 3 MW of AC output capacity and 2 MWh of battery storage, supports essential functions even after sunset.

Tegbe further informed that the project is just the beginning, and plans are underway to extend power to hostels and other areas in the coming six months. The project will also enhance campus illumination and security through 388 streetlights. Tegbe appealed to the university community to safeguard the infrastructure, stating that the government is working with security agencies to protect national assets.

The Energising Education Programme has already provided renewable energy infrastructure to 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals, with over 100 MW of clean energy deployed. The Managing Director and CEO of REA, Abba Aliyu, emphasized that the program's objective was to transform the role of reliable electricity in Nigeria's public universities, enabling students, lecturers, researchers, and laboratories to function with certainty.

The university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, described the project as a vital investment in the institution's academic mission, stressing that dependable power supply is essential for effective teaching, research, laboratory operations, and the provision of conducive learning environments.