By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Government has commissioned a 1.6-megawatt solar hybrid mini-grid at the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, in an intervention expected to save the institution about ₦30m monthly in electricity expenditure.
The project, implemented under the Rural Electrification Agency’s (REA) Energising Education Programme (EEP), is designed to provide reliable and uninterrupted electricity to the university, while reducing its dependence on conventional power sources.
The hybrid power plant comprises an approximately 1.6-megawatt-peak (MWp) photovoltaic solar park, configured with a Power Conditioning System (PCS) and an Energy Storage System (ESS) to improve power reliability, manage peak demand and supply critical loads beyond daylight hours.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, commended President Bola Tinubu for extending the federal government’s electricity intervention to the university, saying the project would also reduce the financial burden on the state.
Sule advocated the expansion of mini-grid projects across the country, describing decentralised electricity generation as a practical approach to addressing Nigeria’s electricity access challenges, particularly in underserved communities.
“My opinion is that we should build as many mini-grids as possible. That is the future of Nigeria’s electrification. To reach those without access, we can focus on mini-grids,” the governor said.
He described the project as evidence of the government’s commitment to addressing electricity challenges through practical solutions.
Also speaking, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerians have access to reliable electricity.
Referring to the three-month test run of the facility, Tegbe said the uninterrupted electricity supply experienced by the university demonstrated the impact of the government’s investment in the sector.
He expressed the government’s determination to extend similar benefits to other Nigerians, noting that universities participating in the Energising Education Programme were already experiencing improved electricity supply.
The minister said investments in infrastructure that supports learning, productivity and human development remained central to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Under his leadership, investment in electricity is being directed toward the services and productive activities that improve people’s lives. Here, that commitment finds expression in better conditions for scholarship and a stronger foundation for the aspirations of our young people,” he said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said the Federal Government was moving away from fragmented electricity interventions towards coordinated and scalable electrification programmes.
Aliyu commended Governor Sule for his commitment to renewable energy development and acknowledged the contributions of funding and development partners, particularly the African Development Bank (AfDB), in piloting the Energising Education Programme.
He disclosed that the REA had financed the completion of 22 mini-grid projects in Nasarawa State, adding that another 37 projects would be developed in the state.
The REA chief executive said the intervention at the university went beyond providing electricity, describing it as an investment in education, technology, innovation and the country’s future workforce.
He explained that reliable electricity would improve productivity, eliminate disruptions to academic activities and create opportunities for students and researchers to maximise their potential.
“It is not just about electrifying a university; it is about connecting an entire generation of Nigerians to a world full of opportunities,” Aliyu said.
He added that the agency’s strategy was to build an interconnected electricity ecosystem capable of delivering power where it would generate the greatest socioeconomic benefits.
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“Our ambition is to build a renewable economy around the electrification of Nigeria,” he stated.
Highlighting the impact of the project, a 300-level student, Raimat Abdullahi, said the stable electricity supply had enabled her to study for longer hours and improve her academic productivity.
Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Mohammed Isa Kida, said the institution had enjoyed uninterrupted electricity since the commencement of the facility’s three-month test run.
Kida described the project as a strategic intervention that would strengthen the university’s capacity to deliver on its academic mandate and benefit more than 30,000 students and staff members.
He said the improved power supply would enhance digital and technology-based services, while creating better opportunities for practical training and research in renewable energy.
The vice-chancellor also commended the inclusion of a training programme for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as part of the intervention.
He assured the Federal Government and its development partners that the university would protect and maintain the facilities to ensure their sustainability and maximise the long-term benefits of the investment.
