The Federal Government has commissioned a 3MW solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, formerly the University of Abuja, to improve electricity supply for teaching, research, laboratories and other critical campus operations.
The project was commissioned on Wednesday by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, under Phase II of the Energising Education Programme in collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the World Bank-funded Nigeria Electrification Project.
Tegbe said the project demonstrated the importance of linking energy investment with human capital development, noting that reliable electricity was essential for learning, research, technology, healthcare, administration and digital services in universities.
According to the project details, the facility comprises a 3.3MW solar array, 3MW AC output capacity and 2 megawatt-hours of battery storage to provide power for critical loads beyond solar hours. The minister also said the government was considering expanding the battery capacity to extend electricity supply to student hostels and other areas of the university.
Tegbe further announced that efforts were underway to ensure that other parts of the campus were covered within six months. He said the project would also improve campus lighting and security through the installation of 388 streetlights.
The minister urged the university community to protect the infrastructure against vandalism, disclosing that the government had established a joint committee involving security agencies, including the police, civil defence authorities and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to safeguard national assets.
He also announced plans to strengthen the maintenance of renewable energy infrastructure through the proposed Renewable Asset Management Company, alongside a similar arrangement for national grid assets.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA, Abba Aliyu, said the Energising Education Programme had provided renewable energy infrastructure to 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals, with more than 100MW of clean energy deployed.
Aliyu urged the university to utilise the project as a research platform for renewable energy, battery storage, grid integration, smart metering and energy management. The Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, described the project as a major investment in the institution’s academic mission.
