The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday approved two major solar-powered electrification projects targeting Nigeria’s educational and rural agricultural sectors, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said the projects reflect a strategic shift toward sustainable energy, aimed at reducing reliance on the national grid while boosting development and inclusivity.
The first project, valued at ₦145 billion (inclusive of VAT), involves the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of solar hybrid systems under the Energizing Education Programme (EEP). To be executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the project will power eight federal universities and one teaching hospital through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
The listed institutions include:
- University of Lagos (UNILAG)
- Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria
- Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
- University of Ibadan (UI)
- University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan
- Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State
Others will be confirmed upon project commencement. The installations are expected to be completed within seven to nine months.
“This is a major milestone in transforming our tertiary education infrastructure,” Adelabu said. “It will significantly reduce reliance on diesel, lower energy costs, and provide a clean, stable source of electricity for learning, research, and healthcare.”
The project builds on earlier World Bank-backed initiatives that delivered mini-grids to institutions like the University of Abuja (3MW), UNN (12MW), and the Nigerian Defence Academy (2.6MW).
The second project, worth ₦68.7 billion, will provide solar infrastructure in Agricultural Centres of Excellence across off-grid rural communities. Also to be delivered by REA within three months, the initiative will power agro-processing facilities, homes, cold storage systems, and small rural enterprises, enhancing productivity and economic growth.
“The goal here is not just lighting homes but energizing agriculture, creating jobs, and enabling value addition right in the communities,” the minister said.
Adelabu emphasized that both approvals underscore the government’s commitment to making electricity a catalyst for inclusive growth and renewable energy adoption in key sectors like education, health, and agriculture.
“These projects reaffirm our commitment to bridging the energy access gap,” he said, “ensuring no Nigerian is left behind as we transition toward a cleaner, more sustainable power sector.”
