The Nigerian government has electrified 15 federal universities and teaching hospitals with hybrid solar grids, a move aimed at providing continuous electricity to 350,000 students and 50,000 lecturers. Supported by the World Bank and African Development Bank, the initiative is part of the $550 million Nigeria Electrification Project.
Solar Projects to Benefit More Than 350,000 Students
The Federal Government of Nigeria has electrified 15 federal universities and teaching hospitals with hybrid solar grids, providing a total of 35.5 megawatts of capacity. This initiative is part of the $550 million Nigeria Electrification Project, with support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
Abba Aliyu, CEO and Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, announced the milestone at the Alliance for Rural Electrification Energy Access Forum in Lagos. He noted that the recipients include the University of Maiduguri and its teaching hospital, which received a 12MW solar grid installation.
Other institutions benefiting from the project include the University of Abuja, Federal University Yobe, the Federal University of Calabar and its teaching hospital, the Nigerian Defence Academy, the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike. The head of the REA confirmed that Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu will inaugurate these projects within the next two months.
Unimaid Gets the Largest Project
The project at the University of Maiduguri is one of the largest of its kind in the country. Its 12MW capacity will supply power to the university, its teaching hospital, and the Borno State water treatment plant. The installation is nearing completion and is set to be inaugurated by the minister.
University of Maiduguri (Image: Collected)
Aliyu noted that beyond the universities, more than 150 mini-grids have been implemented nationwide, including 100 containerised 50-kilowatt mini-grids that serve roughly 100 health facilities.
Solar projects are also underway at several other institutions, including the Federal University of Technology in Owerri and Akure, the Federal University of Lafia, the Federal University of Lokoja, Modibbo Adama University in Yola, the University of Port Harcourt, and the University of Uyo.
Aliyu also revealed the agency’s plans to launch a connected 1MW mini-grid to support 6,000 households in Ondo State.
Approval Gained for 1,200 Mini-grids in Rural Communities
Responding to concerns about the geographic distribution of REA projects, Aliyu acknowledged the substantial challenge, emphasizing that scaling up to thousands of mini-grids will be necessary to achieve a noticeable impact across the country.
According to The PUNCH, President Bola Tinubu has approved a $750 million World Bank loan for the construction of 1,200 mini-grids in rural communities across Nigeria.
Aliyu confirmed this development, noting that Tinubu approved the distributed access programme as part of a renewable energy project designed to increase energy access in Nigeria’s rural regions.
The projects will have a significant impact on the universities, shielding them from the incessant power outages they have long experienced. This initiative follows a plan first announced by the Federal Government last September.
10 More Universities to Benefit from Solar Projects
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has announced a government initiative to switch 25 universities, teaching hospitals, and rural areas to solar power, disconnecting them from the national grid. Unveiled at an event in Ibadan, the plan aims to tackle the country’s persistent power issues and ensure reliable electricity for critical facilities.
Adelabu emphasized that the move aligns with the government’s rural electrification strategy, which focuses on using renewable energy to spur economic growth. He also highlighted plans to invest in improving power transmission and distribution infrastructure to reduce energy loss.
The electrification of these 15 federal universities and teaching hospitals with hybrid solar grids marks a crucial step forward in Nigeria’s quest for reliable electricity. With international support, these projects promise to benefit hundreds of thousands of people while alleviating the burden of frequent power outages. Nigeria’s commitment to renewable energy underscores its path toward a more sustainable future.
