The Federal Government has commissioned a 3MW solar hybrid electricity project at Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja under the second phase of the Energizing Education Program.
Power Minister Joseph Tegbe said the project would reduce the university’s reliance on diesel, lower energy costs and improve the reliability of electricity for teaching, research, laboratories, digital services and administration.
The installation combines a 3.3MW solar array with 3MW AC output capacity and two megawatt-hours of battery storage.
Tegbe said government planned to increase battery capacity so the system could serve additional areas of the university within six months.
The project also includes 388 solar-powered streetlights intended to improve visibility and security across the campus.
Tegbe said the Yakubu Gowon University facility was one of 15 universities and three teaching institutions covered under the second phase of the Energizing Education Program.
He stressed that the government’s focus would extend beyond commissioning to the long-term maintenance and sustainability of renewable-energy assets.
The minister cited the newly launched Renewable Asset Management Company as part of the strategy for protecting and optimizing government-funded clean-energy installations.
He also said a joint working committee involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps had been established to strengthen protection of electricity infrastructure from vandalism.
The program includes technical training for students.
Tegbe said 20 students from each of the 15 participating universities were being trained in areas including soil testing, installation and commissioning of renewable-energy systems.
The 300 students involved would be tracked for possible opportunities in power-sector institutions, he said.
Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency Abba Aliyu said the wider Energizing Education Program had delivered renewable-energy infrastructure to 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals.
He said the interventions were supplying more than 100MW of clean energy and affecting hundreds of thousands of students and staff.
Vice-Chancellor Hakeem Fawehinmi said dependable electricity was essential for the university’s approximately 40,000 students and more than 3,500 staff.
He said the project would strengthen research, laboratories, digital services and the overall learning environment.
The university was also encouraged to use the facility as a research platform for renewable energy, battery storage, grid integration, smart metering and climate resilience.
