Rural electrification, 9 institutions sign pact on energy education

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with eight Federal universities and one teaching hospital for the first phase of the Federal Government’s Energizing Education Programme (EEP).

The programme aims to provide uninterrupted power to 37 federal universities and seven teaching hospitals in the country through the utilisation of off grid captive power plants so as to resolve power challenges in institutions of higher learning in the country.

The first phase with nine institutions should be completed in 2018 and would benefit over 300,000 students and staff. Seven of the nine planned power plants with 10.5 megawatts (mw) would be fuelled by solar energy, a statement by the agency said.

Head of Special Projects, REA, Mrs. Anita Otubu, at the event said, “The Federal Government is keen on ensuring that its universities are at par with their international counterparts and recognizes access to power as an essential commodity to achieve this.”

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said the stakeholders are grateful to the Federal Government for the development.

Through the programme, there would be installation of street lighting to enhance security measures on campuses, develop and operate training centres for students training on renewables.

The eight federal universities and 1 teaching hospital include Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Bayero University Kano, Usumanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra.

The others are University of Lagos Akoka, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Delta, Obafemi Awolowo University and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Osun.