The Federal Government recently fulfilled a promise to power Nigerian Universities by commissioning the first solar hybrid power plant at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) in Ebonyi State. STEPHEN ONYEKWELU suggests that the emerging renewable off-grid energy sector driven by the Federal Rural Electrification Agency (REA) seeks to generate value for Nigerian open-air markets, un-served and underserved communities, teaching hospitals and higher learning institutions
Ebonyi State will go down history as the first where a Federal University successfully went off-grid on a solar hybrid power plant, superintended by the Federal Government under the Rural Electrification Agency’s Energising Education Programme (EEP).
On August 2, 2019, Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s vice-president led other dignitaries to commission a 2.8 mega Watts (mW) of solar hybrid power at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) in Ebonyi State.
The project has multiplier effects through improved access to electrical power for students of the university. It will also rob off on business micro, small and medium businesses’ access to reliable electricity supply among communities surrounding the university. It is the first to be commissioned of 37 universities and seven affiliated teaching hospitals under the REA’s EEP focused on developing off-grid, independent power plants, as well as rehabilitating existing distribution infrastructure to supply clean, reliable power and renewable energy.
Over 7,700 students and 1,819 faculty staff at FUNAI will have access to clean reliable energy. This programme will improve the quality of education, research and health care services at the federal universities and teaching hospitals across the country. The commissioning culminated in the graduation of twenty all-female Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) participants who received certificates of completion for renewable energy training, launching of 7.5 kilometres of solar-powered street lights for illumination and safety, as well as a modern training centre for renewable energy.
“As an agriculturist, my participation in the programme has opened my eyes and broadened my horizon. I think I have ventured into another area. I see my future in the renewable energy sector,” Kalu Oluchi, a 200-year level Agriculture undergraduate said.
The FUNAI is one of the EEP Phase 1 university projects that will deliver clean and sustainable energy to nine Federal Universities and one University Teaching Hospital using solar hybrid and/or gas-fired captive power plants.
The multi-million naira solar power plant under EEP first solar hybrid power plant has 8 mega Watts-hour (mWh) capacity battery banks, inverters and power panel, a modern training centre and transformers. This is the outcome of collaboration between the Rural Electrification Agency, Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National Universities Commission, and executed by Sterling & Wilson, a solutions and services provider that supplies businesses with solutions for solar, wind energy, transmission and distribution, hybrid energy storage and turnkey data centres to organisations across the world.
Reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment to bring positive change to the educational system through its next level roadmap agenda, Osinbajo, guest of honour at the commissioning said no doubt the project would provide sustainable decentralised energy to the entire campus, improve education and create a better university experience for both students and staff.
“Gone are the days when students read at night with candles, lanterns and torches. Our young people are willing to learn and they have great aspirations. It is our duty to aid them to accomplish their goals by providing an enabling learning environment for them. I am glad to be a part of this great feat,” Nigeria’s vice-president said. “Our students will not only reap the benefits of clean, reliable and affordable electricity, they will also receive hands-on training on renewable energy which can be applied beyond the walls of this university,” Osinbanjo quipped.
Commending the federal government’s efforts in promoting and encouraging women, Osinbajo gave kudos to Damilola Ogunbiyi led administration at Rural Electrification Agency for initiating female STEM internship under energising education programme. “We hope that this experience will inspire them to undertake STEM-related careers, including careers as engineers and project managers. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate all of them for this great achievement.”
The EEP would last for the next four years as the train of progress moves to Bayero University Kano (BUK), Kano State and Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State where it would commission other projects over the next couple of months.”
Ogunbiyi, managing director and chief executive officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, said it was a great pleasure to commission the pioneer project under the EEP. She added that young Nigerians are the most important resource for future socio-economic development. With this in mind and fully aligned with this administration’s Next Level Roadmap, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, approved the EEP, which was conceptualised by Babatunde Fashola, the immediate past Minister of Power, Works and Housing, in 2016.
Among Ogunbiyi’s responsibilities as the CEO of Nigeria’s REA is to provide reliable, affordable and sustainable power to 37 federal universities and 7 teaching hospitals through solar hybrid and gas-fired power plant solutions, rehabilitation of existing distribution infrastructure, installation of street lights for illumination and improved security within the beneficiary university campuses and construction of training centres to train students on renewable energy technology.
“The first phase comprises nine federal universities and one teaching hospital, which cut across six geo-political zones in Nigeria and fully funded by the Federal Government. This project here in FUNAI is the first to be commissioned today. EEP projects in Bayero University, Kano State and Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, in Delta State, will follow with commissioning scheduled within the next couple of months.”
The 2.8mW, solar hybrid power plant has a total installed capacity that will result in 3.60 million kilograms of annual carbon dioxide savings. This is sustainable, clean and efficient energy at its finest; ultimately improving Nigeria’s ecological footprint. Furthermore, the installation of 7.5 km of street lighting has already made the university environment harmonious, comfortable and ultimately safer.
“As we step into a future filled with smarter and cleaner technologies, we look forward to continuing to energise education and creating jobs through the remaining phases, for which the REA has secured funds for Phase 2 and Phase 3 from the World Bank and African Development Bank respectively, under the Nigeria Electrification Project,” Ogunbiyi stated.
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) through its Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility and Policy Development Facility programmes provided technical assistance in the development and implementation of the EEP.
David Nweze Umahi, governor of Ebonyi State and an engineer said he was elated and thrilled that this achievement is happening in Ebonyi State under the EEP. “Ebonyi State is committed to ensuring that high-quality education is accessible to all; an education that produces driven, skilled and talented professionals that will be the engine for our growth and development as a nation. What better way to do this than having access to educational facilities powered by reliable clean energy?” Omahi said.
The impact of the project goes beyond improving the quality of education but also generates a total of 108 jobs for Ebonyi indigenes and will create more during the operation and maintenance of the project.
Chinedum Nwajiuba, vice-chancellor of FUNAI emphasised it was a privilege that this was happening under his administration, stressing that it will provide a comfortable learning environment for students. “You may be unaware, but Ebonyi State used to be among one of the educationally disadvantaged states. But over the last eight years since the establishment of this university, we have grown by leaps and bounds. We have developed a learning and research centre that offers students the latest in computing technology, new library facilities and a sports village,” Nwajiuba said. “We are now, also proud to add, the first solar hybrid power plant to be commissioned at a Federal University in Nigeria in addition to a renewable energy workshop/training centre and streetlights across the entire university that will provide a secure and safe learning environment.”
Sonny Echono, an architect and permanent secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education, said “It is no secret that a good education has the power to change a life. Education empowers minds that will be able to conceive good thoughts and ideas. Combined with technologies that continue to develop at breakneck speed, the result is a world that has the want, and the means, to learn at scale. The challenge, therefore, is not just about providing access to education, but also ensuring progress in improving the quality thereof.”
In her votes of thanks, Anita Otubu, head, Special Project, Rural Electrification project, thanked President Buhari and vice-president Osinbajo for their zeal and commitment to increasing electricity access and improving the quality of university education in the country.
