Energising Education with Renewable Power
In an effort to change the erratic power situation in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria, the federal government has inaugurated a solar hybrid power plant at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, in Ebonyi State. Funke Olaode, who was at the inauguration reports
The Federal Government commissioned a 2.8MW solar hybrid power plant at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State, on August 2, signalling a resolve to provide uninterrupted electricity to university campuses through off grid power sources. It was the first to be commissioned at the 37 universities and seven affiliated teaching hospitals under the government’s Energising Education Programme (EEP).
Implemented by Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the project was commissioned by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other dignitaries.
EEP is a Federal Government intervention focused on developing off-grid, dedicated and independent power plants, as well as rehabilitating existing distribution infrastructure to supply clean, reliable power and renewable energy. FUNAI’s over 7,700 students and 1,819 faculty staff would be benefitting from the solar-powered debut under the intervention programme. The programme will help to improve the quality of education, research and health care services at the federal universities and teaching hospitals across the country.
The commissioning ceremony at FUNAI also featured the graduation of 20 all-female Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) participants, who received certificates of completion for renewable energy training, and launch of 7.5 kilometres of solar-powered street lights as well as a world-class training centre for renewable energy.
The solar power plant is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, such as 8mwh capacity battery bank, inverters and power panel, world-class training centre, and transformers. The project is the product of a collaboration between the REA, Federal Ministry of Power,
Works and Housing; Federal Ministry of Environment; and the National Universities Commission (NUC). It is executed by Sterling & Wilson, a solutions and services provider providing business solutions for solar, wind energy, transmission and distribution, hybrid energy storage and turnkey data centres to organisations across the world.
The FUNAI power is one of the EEP Phase One university projects meant to deliver clean and sustainable energy to nine federal universities and one University Teaching Hospital using solar hybrid and/ or gas-fired captive power plants.
Among the dignitaries at the unveiling ceremony were representatives of Chancellor of the institution and Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo , former governor of Ebonyi of State, Chief Martins Elechi, politicians, law enforcement agencies, and traditional rulers.
Speakers at the event emphasised the vital role of human capital development in nation-building and acknowledged that the youth were the most important resource for socio-economic development. They agreed on the fact that with an enabling environment, Nigerian students would not only stand tall, but they will equally be calling the shots in the global markets.
Reiterating the federal government’s commitment to bringing positive change to the educational system through its Next Level agenda, Osinbajo, who was the guest of honour, said the project would provide sustainable decentralised energy to the entire FUNAI campus, improve education and create a better university experience for both students and staff.