By Business Standards
The Federal Government has commissioned a 3MW solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, expanding the use of renewable energy to support electricity supply for teaching, research, laboratories, digital services, campus lighting and other critical university operations.
The project was delivered under Phase II of the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) through the World Bank-funded Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), in partnership with Yakubu Gowon University and EM-ONE Energy Solutions, the engineering, procurement and construction contractor.
With nearly 40,000 students, including more than 8,000 resident on campus, and over 3,500 staff, the university has substantial electricity requirements across its academic, residential and administrative facilities.
The new solar hybrid system is therefore expected to provide the institution with a more reliable and predictable electricity supply while reducing its dependence on conventional power sources.
Power investment linked to human capital
Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, said the project demonstrates the connection between Nigeria’s energy transition and human capital development.
He said universities provide an appropriate environment for demonstrating the economic and social value of renewable energy because they depend heavily on electricity for education, research, healthcare, technology, administration and digital infrastructure.
According to the minister, the commissioning should not be regarded as the end of the investment but as the beginning of the facility’s operational phase.
He stressed that maintaining the infrastructure and ensuring its efficient operation would determine whether the project delivers its expected long-term benefits.
EEP expands renewable energy footprint
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the Energizing Education Programme has evolved beyond the provision of electricity infrastructure to become part of the government’s broader human capital development strategy.
According to Aliyu, the EEP has so far delivered renewable energy infrastructure to 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals, deploying more than 100MW of clean energy and reaching more than 600,000 students and 50,000 academic and administrative staff nationwide.
He said the impact of the programme should not be measured solely by installed generation capacity.
Reliable electricity, he noted, can improve learning conditions, enable more consistent laboratory and research activities, enhance campus security and reduce the financial pressure associated with powering universities.
“The true value of EEP is not measured by megawatts alone,” Aliyu said. “It is measured by improved learning environments, laboratories that can function more reliably, safer campuses, reduced pressure on university operating budgets, and the confidence it gives institutions to plan around reliable power.”
Government targets renewable asset sustainability
A major issue confronting Nigeria’s renewable energy expansion is the sustainability of infrastructure after commissioning.
Aliyu said the Federal Government had established the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO) to strengthen the management, maintenance and optimisation of renewable energy assets delivered through government programmes.
The initiative is intended to address one of the longstanding challenges associated with public infrastructure projects: ensuring that completed facilities continue to operate efficiently after their formal commissioning.
For the Yakubu Gowon University project, the quality of operation and maintenance will therefore be as important as the initial investment in generation capacity.
Senate seeks effective project management
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, also stressed the importance of sustainability.
He said the long-term success of the project would depend on appropriate ownership arrangements, effective operation and maintenance, and continued commitment from the relevant stakeholders.
The Senate’s position highlights a wider challenge facing Nigeria’s power sector, where infrastructure investments have frequently been constrained by inadequate maintenance, weak commercial arrangements and institutional coordination.
Project adds training component
Beyond electricity generation, the Yakubu Gowon University project incorporates a Renewable Energy Workshop and Training Centre designed to provide practical training in renewable energy technologies.
The project also includes a Female STEM component, giving students practical exposure to renewable energy technologies and potential career opportunities within the sector.
The training components are intended to ensure that the project contributes not only to electricity supply but also to skills development and the expansion of Nigeria’s renewable energy workforce.
University expects stronger research capacity
Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, described the project as a significant investment in the institution’s academic and research objectives.
He said dependable electricity was essential for teaching, research, laboratory operations, digital services and innovation.
The university expects the new facility to provide a more conducive environment for students and staff while strengthening its capacity to undertake research and technology-driven activities.
Renewable energy and Nigeria’s power challenge
The commissioning comes as Nigeria seeks to expand electricity access and diversify its power generation mix.
For universities and other large public institutions, hybrid renewable systems offer an alternative to heavy reliance on diesel and other fossil-fuel-powered backup systems.
The economic case extends beyond electricity generation. More predictable power can reduce expenditure on backup generation, improve operating efficiency and provide institutions with greater certainty in planning their activities.
However, the long-term impact of the Yakubu Gowon University project will ultimately depend on system availability, maintenance, battery and equipment management, institutional ownership and the ability of the university and relevant government agencies to sustain the asset.
The commissioning therefore marks not only an expansion of Nigeria’s renewable-energy infrastructure but also a test of whether public institutions can maintain and fully utilise clean-energy assets over their operational lifetimes
