China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has won the contract to build a 7-megawatt floating solar power station for the Federal University of Lagos (UNILAG) in Nigeria, an X post by the company said Monday.

The facility, to be installed on the lagoon waters surrounding the university campus, will be Nigeria’s first floating solar power project.

Upon completion, it is expected to provide the institution with a reliable supply of safe, stable and clean energy, reducing its reliance on fossil-fuel generators, the post added.

CCECC said the project would be the first floating solar panel in any tertiary institution in the country.

“The project is located in the lagoon waters surrounding the university campus. Upon completion, it is expected to become Nigeria’s first floating solar power station, providing the Federal University of Lagos with a reliable supply of safe, stable, and clean energy” CCECC said.

Floating solar technology, which places photovoltaic panels on bodies of water, reduces land use and can improve energy efficiency by cooling the panels naturally.

Such systems are increasingly seen as an innovative solution to Nigeria’s chronic power shortages, where only about half of the population has access to grid electricity and many businesses still rely on costly back-up generators.

The UNILAG project falls within broader national efforts to expand renewable energy infrastructure in Nigerian universities and public institutions.

In 2025, the Federal Executive Council approved large electrification projects under the Energizing Education Programme, including solar hybrid power systems for eight federal universities, part of a shift towards sustainable energy delivery in the education sector.

Earlier phases of the programme delivered mini-grid solar systems to campuses such as the University of Abuja and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Meanwhile, energy experts say floating solar projects in Nigeria could offer a scalable model for expanding clean power generation across the country, especially in regions with limited land availability and abundant water bodies.

They also highlight that such initiatives align with global trends towards renewable energy adoption, as nations strive to cut carbon emissions and improve energy security.

Officials from CCECC and UNILAG have yet to announce a timeline for the project’s completion, but industry watchers say construction of similar solar plants typically takes several months once financing and permitting are finalised.