Government plans solar farms in nine federal varsities

The Federal Government has concluded plans to build solar powered independent power plants in nine universities in the country. Coming as part of the government’s policy to connect all federal universities to the national power grid, the project would use renewable energy.

The idea was initiated in 2016 by the government through the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing under the Rural Electricity Agency (REA).Nine universities selected for the first phase of the project are: Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE); and the University of Lagos.

Others are Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Federal University of Agriculture, Markudi; Bayero University, Kano; Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto; and Abubakar Tafa Belewa University, Bauchi.

A team from REA, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing made this known during a visit to the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo to access the project site for its commencement.

Giving an insight on the project, leader of the team, Saheed Oseni-Wahab said: “FUNAI is one of the nine universities that are benefiting from this power project in the first phase.”

He stressed that the power project would not only lead to the construction of a solar farm but also an independent power plant, as well as a training centre in the university.

Welcoming the team to the institution, its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, thanked the Federal Government for choosing the institution as one of the first beneficiaries of the power project.

He charged the contractor handling the project to start work immediately and more importantly to ensure quality work.Responding on behalf of the contacting firm, SWL Nigeria Limited, Heaven Upadhyay, noted that the power plant, when completed, would be a hybrid system with the capacity to work with or without the power grid.