Success Corner! Solar: FG to train youths with 25kw demonstration plant
Youths in Kebbi state are being trained to mobilise support from parents on girl-child education and sourcing for alternative economic empowerment for women.
The training, ACTIVISTA which was held recently across three communities including Tungan Bature, Raishe and Gungun Tagwaye in Ngaski LGA of the state was sponsored by ACTIONAID, Strengthening Women Empowerment to Deepen Girl Child Education (SWEDGE) and the Active Support for Rural People Initiative (ASURPI), all nongovernmental organisations.
Flagging-off the capacity programme in Birnin Kebbi, the National Coordinator, National ACTIVISTA programme, Bashama Gombe said youths from the three communities that formed an ACTIVISTA cell will also come
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he federal government said it will train youths on solar technology with the newly commissioned 25kilowatts (kw) demonstration plant launched by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Kainji, Niger state.
Speaking at the weekend, NAPTIN Director General, Engr. Reuben Okeke said the plant located at the Regional Training Centre (RTC) near Kainji Dam is a combination of 10kw solar and 15kw wind technology combined to produce an on-grid, off-grid electricity technology.
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo said the project was the first of its kind in the West African sub-region, as the plant combines more than one source of renewable energy and is able to operate off-grid as well as on–grid.
Engr. Okeke said the project being commissioned was bound to further strengthen and support the success of the “Operation Light-Up Rural Nigeria” Initiative, by providing adequate and skilled manpower during installation, operation and maintenance of all the facilities.
Engr. Okeke said the Hybrid demonstration plant would greatly add to the learning potentials of other institutes, while taking NAPTIN closer to the dream of being a world class institute.
NAPTIN said it will shortly commission a fully equipped Engineering Training Laboratory at the Kano regional office to further strengthen its capabilities.
Some of the students at the RTC spoke to YOUTHVILLE on what they felt about the project being commissioned.
Speaking in confidence one of the few female engineering graduate students said, “It is commendable to see this feat. We wish the new batch success as their learning activities will be advanced by this plant.
“For us, it is not quite useful to us as we are passing out by April this year, about a month from now,” she explained.