The Lumine News

Tag: #Goddy Jeddy-Agba

  • Convocation : Benson Idahosa University To Honour Power Minister

    Convocation : Benson Idahosa University To Honour Power Minister

     

    One of Nigeria’s leading universities, Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Benin, Edo State is set to honour the Honourable Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR with an Honourary Doctorate Degree.

    This was disclosed when a delegation from the University, led by the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Sam Guobadia paid a courtesy call on the Minister in his office in Abuja on Tuesday, February 15th.

    The VC explained that the Minister was chosen having met the stringent conditions set up by the University for an award of an Honourary Doctorate Degree.

    According to him, “We have been watching you because we have stringent conditions on who to contact, meet and honour.

    As contained in our earlier letter to you and signed by the Chancellor of the University, Most Rev. Margaret E. Benson – Idahosa, we have taken notice of your personality even outside public office and observed your commitment to excellence and the fact that you are concerned about the upliftment and empowerment of the common man. This tallies with the aspiration of the founding Archbishop and Chancellor, Archbishop Benson Idahosa. We must state at this point that you are a pride to South-South.

    “It is with great pleasure that we will like to communicate to you that you have been nominated for the award of an Honourary Doctorate Degree during our next convocation”.

    Speaking about the challenges facing the University, Prof. Guobadia noted that “we are always creativite driven especially with the introduction of more private Universities and the problem of top teaching staff as well as infrastructural development, when we meet people like you, we crave for partnership.

    As a University, we play a critical role in training man power across different sectors of the economy. So, we want people like you to partner with us to help improve on these areas”.

    Responding, the Minister said that he was excited that his contribution to society was appreciated by a renowned University like BIU.

    While promising to look into the university’s area of needs to explore possibilities of partnership, he added that “I’m very interested in human capital development and when you were talking, I heard you mentioned Law. My wife is a Lawyer and I also have a son who is a Lawyer. So, law is also of interest to me.

    “My Ministry through the Rural Electrification Agency is running a programme called Energizing Education which is aimed at lightening up university as well as providing basic infrastructures for the training of students in solar energy technology. I would like us to work closely to conceptualize things like this to see what we can do together”.

    BIU, a privately owned university is the only university in Nigeria and Africa with international membership with the United States National Academy of Inventors.

  • Minister Assures Investors Of Business-Friendly Environment

    Minister Assures Investors Of Business-Friendly Environment

     

    The Honourable Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR has assured partners and investors of favourable policies and business – friendly environments for investment in the power sector.

    The Minister gave the assurances when a team of German partners lead by Ina Hommer, Country Director, German International Cooperation (GIZ) visit him in his office in Abuja, earlier today.

    The Head of Programme, Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), Duke Benjamin was also part of the team that met the Minister.

    While encouraging the partners and other investors to see Nigeria as Africa investment hub, the Minister added that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has introduced many favourable policies to water the ground for foreign and local investors in the power sector.

    Agba, however urged the team to work more closely with him for the smooth implementation of their programmes in the country.

    According to him, “I welcome you to my office and thank you for coming. Our government is very open for partnership and investment in the power sector.

    The President has tasked us with the responsibility of ensuring that the power situation in the country improves and from what we have been doing, we have recorded remarkable achievements.

    “I want to assure you that Nigeria is running favourable policies and has business-friendly environment that partners and investors can take advantage of to do business in the power sector”.

    Earlier, the Country Director, Hommer said that the NEPS which is co-funded by the European Union and German Government has carried out several projects to increase electricity supply to rural areas in the country.

    She said that “between 2013-2018, NESP reached more than 15,000 people with solar-powered mini-grids that blend finance from public and private investors”.

    She added that “NESP supported the implementation of energy efficient pilot projects in public and industry buildings which led to energy savings of 15% in the country”.

    While pledging that the German Cooperation through NESP will continue to invest in the power sector in the country, she however appealed to the Minister to continue to woo investors to the sector.

    “From what you have done so far, we want to encourage you to continue to work to draw more investors to the sector, especially the renewable energy. Use your institutional powers to connect with other ministries to also emphasize investment in sustainable renewable energy “.

    Also speaking, the NESP Head of Programme, Benjamin promised to work closely with the Minister and his team to provide technical support to promote investments in the domestic market for renewable energy.

  • FG Inaugurates 1.12MW Power Plant in ATBU, Trains 20 Female Students On Solar Power Installation, Maintenance

    FG Inaugurates 1.12MW Power Plant in ATBU, Trains 20 Female Students On Solar Power Installation, Maintenance

     

    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.

  • Winning CRN Bye Election Will Assist Us To Capture The State In 2023 – APC National Care Taker Committee Chairman, Buni

    Winning CRN Bye Election Will Assist Us To Capture The State In 2023 – APC National Care Taker Committee Chairman, Buni

     

    By Omeiza Ajayi – Abuja

    The Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni has explained why the party attaches great importance to the December 5 senatorial bye-election in Cross River North, saying winning the legislative seat would assist the party in its quest to capture the state in 2023.

    Buni disclosed this on Wednesday while inaugurating the APC Cross River North Senatorial Campaign Council.

    Represented by the Secretary, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe said: “it is not often that this Party sets up a National Campaign Council for a Senatorial election. This shows the importance the Party attaches to this election”.

    Speaking further, he said; “We already have the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency in our bag; where our brother, Hon. Alex Egbona, PhD, is serving his people very well. So this election is ours for the taking.

    “The importance of having an overwhelming majority in the Senate for our party cannot be overemphasized. This will deepen our in-road as a party into Cross River State.

    “Let me use this opportunity to advise our leaders to leave the 2023 Governorship permutations aside, and throw everything into this election. The victory can only help the 2023 Project for whoever God chooses, as power, after-all, power belongs to God.

    “You all are tested hands in this business, so I will not tell you how to do it. All we need is victory but within the ambit of law”.

    “We are going to ensure victory for our party in the upcoming election. Although power belongs to God, the committee would ensure that the party emerge victorious in the election”, he said.

    Other members of the campaign council are the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, Amb. Anthony Ogah Dimo, Alh. Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa, Joshua Akpan and Mrs Stella Oketete who will serve as Secretary.