The Nigerian Presidency has affirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to providing 24-hour power supply to all higher institutions in the country as part of efforts to enhance the quality of education.
This assurance was given by Comrade Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Engagement to the President, during a visit to Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), in Abuja.
The Federal Government has invested over N38.96 billion in power generation for various universities under the first phase of the Energizing Education Programme (EEP). This initiative aims to address the high electricity costs faced by public universities, which have seen their monthly electricity bills soar between N150 million and N300 million.
The EEP, launched by the Ministry of Power and REA, focuses on providing reliable power through solar hybrid power plants. The programme initially targets 37 federal universities and 7 affiliated university teaching hospitals. The first phase has been completed, with the solar hybrid power plants now operational at the beneficiary institutions.
The second phase is in the pre-commissioning stage and is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2024. The third phase, currently under construction, is slated for commissioning by the second quarter of 2025.
Beneficiary institutions in this programme include:
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra
- Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi
- Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike
- Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
- Bayero University, Kano
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
- Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Efunrun
- Michael Okpara Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike
- Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
- Federal University, Gashua
- Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna
- University of Abuja
- University of Calabar and Teaching Hospital
- University of Maiduguri and Teaching Hospital
Asefon highlighted President Tinubu’s dedication to improving educational infrastructure by ensuring that Nigerian students have a conducive learning environment, supported by consistent electricity supply. He praised the REA’s efforts and noted that no previous administration has provided such significant support for institutional power supply.
Abba Abubakar Aliyu, the Managing Director of the REA, pledged to continue collaborating with institutional heads and state governments to support host communities in need of assistance.
