Stakeholders lament energy crisis plaguing tertiary institutions

• Say affordable, stable power supply crucial for effective teaching, learning
• Senate to wade into non-inclusion of monotechnics as beneficiaries of TETFund

Experts in the education and power sectors have emphasised the need for an affordable and stable power supply, saying this is crucial for effective teaching and learning.

They spoke during the yearly summit of the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN), themed: “High tariffs: Resolving electricity crisis in Nigeria’s education institutions,” held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, acknowledged that the energy crisis is a national issue affecting all sectors, but noted that education is fundamental and should not be subjected to the burden of unstable and costly power supply.

She lamented that many universities and educational institutions are heavily indebted due to mounting electricity bills, which hinder the delivery of qualitative, evidence-based education.

Former Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, expressed optimism that the summit would push for innovative solutions to address energy supply challenges.

Also, Spokesman of the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED), Sunday Oduntan, said that while Nigerians demand reliable power, reluctance to pay current tariffs is a significant obstacle to progress. He added that financial limitations had impeded efforts to provide a minimum of 20 hours of electricity nationwide.

In another development, the lawmaker representing Oyo Central, Yunus Akintunde, yesterday, said that the National Assembly had promised to look into the issue of non-inclusion of monotechnic institutions as beneficiaries of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and other related matters.

The senator, who spoke yesterday, while responding to the request of the Provost of Federal College of Forest, Ibadan, Dr Ibrahim Lawal, during the 85th anniversary of the Institute in Ibadan, promised that the matter would be tabled on the floor of the Senate for consideration.

Akintunde said that in as much as the federal government is ready to play its role in supporting the Institute to achieve its set goal, the management should look inward on how to generate revenues.

Also in his address, the Oyo state Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, has implored the federal government to put in place necessary mechanisms that would promote continuous tree planting systems and other environmental health practices to address challenges of flooding and environmental degradation.