The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has announced that 24 federal institutions across Nigeria have been powered by solar energy under the “Energising Education Project” of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Alausa disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony with the Vice-Chancellors of the beneficiary institutions. He also revealed that eight additional universities have signed collaboration agreements to join Phase Four of the project.
Before the ceremony, the minister undertook an inspection tour of the solar-powered facility at the University of Abuja, now renamed Yakubu Gowon University.
Describing the initiative as marking a “new day for Nigeria,” Alausa hailed the project as a transformational step under President Tinubu aimed at delivering uninterrupted electricity to Nigeria’s federal tertiary institutions.
He highlighted the far-reaching benefits of the project for both education and the broader economy.
According to the minister, the University of Abuja now operates a solar farm consisting of 6,000 photovoltaic panels, generating approximately 3.3 megawatts of electricity daily—enough to power the campus around the clock.
“This project brings continuous, 24-hour electricity to our institutions. It enables increased academic activity, powers laboratories and libraries day and night, and improves the living and learning conditions for both students and faculty,” he said.
The minister further emphasised the economic ripple effects, explaining that reliable electricity stimulates business activities within campuses.
“Any campus is a community by itself. With constant power supply, you unleash high economic activity,” he said.
He added that the project is supported by the Renewable Infrastructure Fund, established by President Tinubu to accelerate infrastructure development across key sectors.
Alausa urged Vice-Chancellors to explore innovative and sustainable approaches to maintain and expand the project, noting that by 2027, every federal tertiary institution is expected to have access to renewable energy generation.
On his part, Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), said that Phases One, Two, and Three of the project have impacted over 600,000 students and 50,000 academic staff across the country.
Aliyu noted that the project has generated more than 100 megawatts of electricity, powering university campuses and teaching hospitals.
“What you are seeing here is one of our interventions in the education sector, and the aim is to ensure that universities have a sustainable and affordable electricity supply,” he said.
He also highlighted the success of the Universal Public Health Project, part of Phase Two, which delivered clean energy to two universities and two teaching hospitals.
Aliyu said that Phase Three, which involves the electrification of eight more universities and one additional teaching hospital, is near completion and scheduled for commissioning within the next two months.
The eight new beneficiary institutions include:
- Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State
- Federal University Dutse
- University of Benin
- University of Ibadan
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
- University of Lagos
