by
The Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR has recorded another landmark achievement as the federal government on Thursday, inaugurated a 1.12 Megawatts Solar Hybrid Power Plant in Abubakar Tafewa Balewa University, (ATBU), Bauchi, Bauchi State.
The historic project which is part of the Ministry of Power Energizing Education Programme (EEP), had the Rural Electrification Agency, (REA) which is one of the agencies under the direct supervision of the Minister of State as the implementing agency.
To ensure proper maintenance of the power plant, the federal government through REA’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme trained 20 female students of ATBU on solar energy deployment.
Speaking, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbaja who joined the commissioning ceremony visually commended the Minister and the management of REA for their efforts in achieving the project.
Osinbanjo said that the EEP programme is a policy that’s aimed at improving electricity supply to 37 federal universities and 7 teaching hospitals in the country.
He charged management, staff and students of the University to take charge, maintain and protect the project.
On his part, the Minister of State said that the project is a considerable win and a major step in providing sustainable and affordable power to homes, schools, hospitals, communities and economic clusters across Nigeria.
Agba said that “This is another milestone of the Energizing Education Programme upon the commissioning of an 8.25MW solar hybrid power plant deployed at Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi on the 4th of December 2020.
“The EEP is meant to provide sustainable and clean power supply to 37 federal universities and 7 university teaching hospitals across Nigeria. It is a privilege to carry on this mandate to ensure that the policies established to promote 24 hours electricity in our country brings forth positive and commendable results. With this, it is with a great sense of pride that I stand before you today to affirm that this is indeed the continuation of more achievements to come”.
While noting that the project will help the institution achieve improved quality of education, he assured that “the coming months will see my ministry delving deeper into the various projects that will electrify more universities and communities and also lead to an upgrade in Nigeria ‘s economy”.
The 1.12MW which has created 310 jobs already was built with a world class training center, efficient solar panels and batteries, 5.4km streetlight for illumination, distribution networks as well as backup power source.
Reacting on behalf of the university, Prof. Muhammed Abdulazeez thanked the federal government for the project even as he promised that the university will properly maintain it.
“We are happy that the federal government through the ministry of power brought this huge project to our institution. The project will not only serve our electricity needs, it’ll serve as a training ground for a lot of our technicians. We thank the government, the Ministers and the REA team for this”, Abdulazeez said.
Climax of the event was the handing over of the project to the University authority by the Minister of Power, Engr. Sule Mamman and presentation of certificates to STEM graduates.
