FG COMMISSIONS 3MW SOLAR HYBRID POWER PROJECT AT YAKUBU GOWON UNIVERSITY, ABUJA

Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has commissioned a 3MW solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, under the Energizing Education Programme (EEP), strengthening electricity supply for teaching, research, laboratories, digital services, campus lighting and other critical university operations.

The project was delivered under Phase II of the EEP through the World Bank-funded Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), in collaboration with Yakubu Gowon University and EM-ONE Energy Solutions, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor.

With almost 40,000 students, including more than 8,000 resident on campus, and over 3,500 staff, the university has significant energy requirements across its academic, residential and administrative facilities. The project is therefore expected to provide a more reliable and predictable energy base for the institution.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Honourable Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, described the project as a demonstration of the connection between Nigeria's energy transition and human capital development. He stated “There is perhaps no better place to demonstrate the practical value of Nigeria’s energy transition than a university. A university brings together everything that a modern energy system is expected to support: learning, research, healthcare, technology, administration and, increasingly, the digital infrastructure through which knowledge is created and shared”.

He further emphasised that the commissioning marks the beginning of the facility's operational phase, stressing the importance of sustaining renewable energy investments. He added “The commissioning is not the conclusion of the investment. It is the beginning of its most important phase”

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, highlighted the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) had evolved beyond the provision of electricity infrastructure to supporting education, institutional performance and human capital development. He noted that EEP has delivered renewable energy infrastructure to 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals, deploying more than 100MW of clean energy and positively impacting over 600,000 students and 50,000 academic and administrative staff nationwide. He stressed that the programme's impact goes beyond installed capacity to improved learning environments, more reliable research and laboratory operations, and stronger institutional capacity, while emphasising the need to sustain the assets delivered. He stated “The true value of EEP is not measured by megawatts alone. 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”.

Furthermore, he added that the Federal Government's focus on the long-term sustainability of renewable energy investments informed the establishment of the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO) to strengthen the management, maintenance and optimization of renewable energy assets.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, also emphasised the importance of sustainability, university ownership and appropriate arrangements for the operation and maintenance of the facility. He stated “The commissioning of this project demonstrates the importance of sustained investment in reliable and clean energy infrastructure for our institutions of learning. However, the success of this investment will ultimately depend on proper ownership, effective operation and maintenance, and the commitment of all stakeholders to ensuring that the facility remains functional and delivers its intended benefits over the long term.”

The Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, described the project as an important investment in the university's academic mission, noting that dependable electricity is essential to effective teaching, research, laboratory operations, digital services and innovation. He stated “The provision of reliable and sustainable electricity is fundamental to the effective delivery of our academic mission. This project will significantly strengthen teaching, research, laboratory operations, digital services and innovation across the University, while creating a more conducive environment for our students and staff. We are deeply appreciative of the Federal Government and the Rural Electrification Agency for this important investment in the University’s future.”

The Yakubu Gowon University project was delivered through collaboration among the Federal Government of Nigeria, Rural Electrification Agency, Nigeria Electrification Project, World Bank, Yakubu Gowon University and EM-ONE Energy Solutions.

Beyond power generation, the Yakubu Gowon University project includes a Renewable Energy Workshop and Training Centre to support practical learning and skills development in renewable energy technologies, as well as a Female STEM component providing students with practical exposure to renewable energy technologies and opportunities in the sector.

With the facility now commissioned, the project is expected to contribute to improved learning conditions, stronger research capacity, enhanced innovation and greater opportunities for students and staff, while supporting the Federal Government's broader objective of strengthening human capital development through reliable and sustainable energy.

About the Rural Electrification Agency

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) under the Federal Ministry of Power tasked with the electrification of unserved and underserved communities to catalyze economic growth and improve quality of life for Nigerians. The Agency was established under Section 127 of the Electricity Act 2023.

The REA is currently implementing the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Capital Projects, Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES), National Public Sector Solarization Initiative (NPSSI), Solar Power Naija (SPN), Energizing Education Programme (EEP), Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI), Energizing Agriculture Programme (EAP), Energy for All – Mass Rural Electrification, Research and Innovation Hub, Africa Mini Grids Programme (AMP), Derisking Sustainable Off-Grid Lighting Solutions (DSOLS), the Korean Energy Project, Healthcare, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development and Transportation (e-HEART), Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP), Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) and Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP)

The Agency is responsible for creating an enabling environment for private-sector-led projects, including conducting feasibility assessments, energy audits, enumeration, data analysis, identification of qualified private-sector developers and project stakeholder engagements.