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The Rural Electrification Agency, (REA)is set to light up 44 Federal Institutions through its Energising Education Programme (EEP).
Through the EEP, the REA would make available off grid captive power plants for 37 federal universities and 7 university teaching hospitals, across the six geo -political zones.
The Managing director said REA is determined to ensure that about 100 million Nigerians not connected to the grid are provided woith off grid solutions to solve their energy needs, while spiking Nigeria’s industrialisation process through proper energy solutions.
Damilola Ogunbiyi,the Managing Director of the agency explained in a statement issued that the EEP scheme would further provide street lights to ensure safety for students, staff and visitors of the institutions;and further rehabilitate, strengthen and extend the existing distribution networks.
The project it would be noted is captured in the 2018 budgetary estimates,and would commence as soon as the budget comes into full force.
She informed further that the scheme would also develop and operate training centres to train and certify students in courses related to renewable energy; and
Explaing further the Managing director said,”In consideration to the role of education in economic growth and socio-economic development in Nigeria, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing resolved to embark on viable projects that will ensure the availability of reliable, sustainable and affordable power to our tertiary institutions. This led to the conception of the ‘Energizing Education Programme’ (the “EEP”).
Giving an insight into the Energising Education Programme,the director general said,”Access to uninterrupted power supply in Federal Universities and University Teaching hospitals in Nigeria has been cited as a major challenge and barrier to effective learning, institutional operations and student residency.”
It would be noted that the EEP is one of the programmes designed to implement the energy access and sufficiency action point of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (EGRP) and it is also incorporated into the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved Power Sector Reform Programme (PSRP), as a vital component of the PSRP.
On the heels of this development, the Managing director explained that the decision to seek a sustainable solution to this problem was also informed by the need to alleviate the burden of enormous costs borne by the Federal Universities in self-power generation which includes but is not limited to the high capital expenditure on diesel run generators and the need to ensure Nigeria adheres to her obligations under the Paris Agreement, through the promotion of renewable and cleaner energy technology, towards reduction of hazardous emissions.
Findings revealed that energy audits on the EEP project revealed a total population of 224,800 to be captured across the Phase 1 Universities projects, thereby further justifying the necessity of the EEP Phase 1 Projects.
This significant number,the Managing director said indicates the number of residents, students and staff that will be positively impacted, as it relates to well being, security, quality of learning and services provided and overall socio-economic development of the country.
HARRISON EDEH, ABUJA
