Students at Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja, formerly the University of Abuja, have one less problem to worry about this semester: unstable power. The Federal Government commissioned a 3MW solar hybrid power project on the campus on Wednesday, a move meant to deliver cleaner electricity to classrooms, laboratories, digital services and other critical operations.
The project was delivered under Phase II of the Energising Education Programme, an initiative run through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Nigeria Electrification Project, with support from the World Bank. It features a 3.3MW solar array, 3MW of AC output capacity and 2MWh of battery storage. The battery is designed to keep facilities running after the sun goes down.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe inaugurated the facility alongside officials from the REA and other stakeholders. He said universities were the right places to demonstrate the practical value of Nigeria's energy transition. "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 said.
For students, the impact is direct. Constant power supply has long been a major challenge on Nigerian campuses, affecting everything from studying at night to accessing online learning platforms, charging devices and carrying out practical research. The new plant is expected to reduce that burden.
The project also includes 388 solar-powered streetlights, which the government says will improve security around the university.
Tegbe addressed a request from the Student Union Government to extend electricity supply beyond the areas currently covered by the project, including student hostels. He said efforts were already underway. "What you can be sure, and the rest are sure, is that we will look into it, and we'll make sure the battery system… We currently have three megawatts solar panel capacity, and we'll have three megawatts battery capacity. Typically, with this kind of project, what you do is you can double the battery capacity so that your storage capacity is much higher, and then you can serve other areas," he said.
He added that the Vice-Chancellor had raised the matter with him directly. "Your Vice-Chancellor has come to see me on this, and we're looking into it. I will make sure that in the next six months, every other area will be covered."
Tegbe also urged students and staff to protect the infrastructure from vandalism. He said the government was working with security agencies to safeguard power assets across the country. "We set up a joint working committee with EFCC, with the police, with the civil defence corps, to monitor our national assets. You will not believe how many towers get pulled down by vandals. There are big vandals all over the country," he said.
Beyond electricity supply, the project includes a skills development component. About 300 students were trained as part of the initiative to help young Nigerians gain knowledge in renewable energy technologies.
Abba Aliyu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA, said the Energising Education Programme has already provided renewable energy infrastructure to 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals, with more than 100MW of clean energy deployed. He encouraged the university to use the facility as a research centre for renewable energy development, including battery storage, smart metering, grid integration and energy management.
The Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, described the project as a major boost to the university's academic activities. Nigerian universities have battled years of unreliable electricity supply, and the government says projects like this are expected to support better learning conditions while helping institutions explore cleaner energy solutions.
According to Pulse.ng.
