ABU signs pact with REA for 10MW solar power plant
• Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital to benefit from the electricity project
Ahmadu Bello University was among the eight public universities that signed a collaboration agreement with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for solar power plants under the Phase IV of the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) of the Federal Government.
The collaboration agreement was signed at EEP II Renewable Energy Workshop and Training Centre, Yakubu Gowon University, FCT-Abuja, on Wednesday, 7th May, 2025, under the supervision of the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa.
The other seven federal universities that will benefit from the electricity project under the EEP Phase IV are University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Federal University, Dutse.
They also include Federal University, Wukari, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Under the programme, Ahmadu Bello University will receive 10MW solar plant. The project, which will commence soon, will be executed in six to eight months.
Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital will benefit from the ABU’s 10MW as captured in the agreement.
The scope of the EEP Phase IV includes the provision of a dedicated electricity distribution infrastructure, provision of street lighting, as well as a world-class renewable energy workshop and training centre for each of the beneficiary institutions.
Also, there will be one year Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services to be carried out by the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors post-construction.
The EEP Phase IV is to be achieved in a sustainable manner through the establishment of a special purpose vehicle (RAMCO) that will be responsible for general oversight on all operational and financial aspects of the project.
The Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, signed on behalf of the institution while the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, signed for the REA.
The solar power plant will generate and supply electrical power within the beneficiary’s premises. It is also intended to be executed and operated in a sustainable manner and the beneficiary is expected to ensure that the electricity supplied is fully paid at the rates to be agreed by the parties.
Speaking at the collaboration agreement signing ceremony, the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, declared that the project could help the beneficiary institutions generate internally generated revenue.
The Minister, who disclosed that the public universities were not doing well in revenue generation, urged Ahmadu Bello University to engage private investors for the utilization of its large expanse of land to boost revenue generation.
Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, stressed that the solar plant was not going to be free as the beneficiary institutions would have to pay something.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary institutions, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, thanked the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for “such a gigantic electricity project”.
The Vice-Chancellor, who explained that the project would significantly address the lingering electricity challenges facing Nigerian public universities, said that ABU would give all the support needed to succeed.
The Hon. Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Sa’ad Ahmad, witnessed the agreement signing ceremony. Others present at the event were the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu; and Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Yakubu Gowon University, FCT-Abuja, Prof. Patricia Manko Lar.
The ABU Vice-Chancellor was accompanied to the agreement signing ceremony by Ag. Registrar, Dr. Aliyu Dalha Kankia; Director, Institute for Development Research and Training (IDR&), Dr. Muhammad Kabir Salihu; and Prof. Boyi Jimoh of the Department of Electrical Engineering.
……………….
Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
(NAM)
Thursday, 8th May, 2025
