The World Bank Practice Manager for West Africa, Ashish Khanna, has commended the pace of work on the 12-megawatt University of Maiduguri solar power project.

Also satisfied with the level of work on the project, expected to be completed in September, is the managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Abubakar.

The project, funded by the World Bank, is part of the second phase of the Federal Government’s Energising Education Programme. .

Messrs Khanna and Abubakar, who are leading a high-level delegation from the World Bank and REA to assess the project at UNIMAID, said when completed, the project, the biggest of its kind in any institution in Nigeria, would cater for the energy needs of the university community and its teaching Hospital. 

Mr Khanna, who told journalists that this was his first visit to any state outside Abuja, said the project also provided an opportunity for 100 students of UNIMAID, including 20 female students interested in solar education, to get training. 

He added that “it is wonderful to see the project now due to be delivered in September. I am impressed with what I saw.”

He emphasised the project’s role in skill-building, job creation and fostering innovation among students, especially female science, technology, engineering and mathematics students.

On his part, Mr Abubakar said the project would have been completed earlier, if not for the delay caused by security and the movement of necessary equipment from Lagos to Maiduguri. 

He said, “What needs to be done now is the completion of the distribution line that will take electricity from the site in the university to the teaching hospital.

“This particular project under phase two is the biggest of all the projects we are doing; 12 megawatts is really a big project.”

The head of the Nigeria Electrification Project, Olufemi Akinyelure, said the project aims to create a sustainable future for Nigeria’s education institutions.

He said, “The EEP Phase 2 underscores our dedication to leveraging renewable energy solutions to drive academic excellence and gender inclusion in STEM fields.”

He tasked benefiting institutions with preparing for ownership and ensuring maintenance for sustainability and maximum benefit.

According to him, there is a comprehensive sustainability plan that needs the collaboration of benefiting institutions. 

The representative of the vice chancellor of the university, Aliyu Yahaya, thanked the federal government and other stakeholders for the project, which he described as “very vital.”

He said that the project would not only address the institution’s power needs but also create opportunities for training and revenue generation by selling excess electricity to organisations in need.

While in Maiduguri, the team paid a courtesy visit to the acting governor, Umar Kadafur, who lauded the initiative and assured of the administration’s support. 

 (NAN)