For years, power outages have plagued Nigeria’s universities and teaching hospitals, disrupting surgeries, lectures, and research.
But that may soon change.
On Thursday, the Federal Executive Council approved ₦68.7 billion to light up these critical institutions, with solar-powered projects targeting eight universities and their teaching hospitals.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the move reflects the government’s commitment to restoring reliability to sectors where electricity isn’t just a utility — it’s a necessity.
Powering Education and Healthcare
To drive this effort, the government launched the Energising Education Programme, with the Rural Electrification Agency leading its execution.
Through this initiative, contractors will design, procure, and construct renewable power systems for selected institutions, shifting them away from unstable local supply.
“This initiative aims to cut energy costs and provide steady, high-quality power to our universities and hospitals,” Adelabu stated.
He criticised the current power situation as unacceptable.
According to him, many institutions struggle with erratic supply, forcing them to scale back operations or rely on costly alternatives.
In several cases, staff have downed tools, citing unworkable conditions caused by blackouts.
Eight New Beneficiaries Named
As part of the expansion plan, the government will deliver renewable energy systems to eight additional universities and their associated hospitals:
- University Of Lagos
- Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
- University Of Nigeria, Nsukka
- University Of Ibadan And Its University College Hospital
- University Of Calabar
- Federal University, Wukari
Meanwhile, Adelabu confirmed that the government had already deployed similar solar energy systems in five institutions.
These include the University of Abuja, University of Niger (12MW), Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (8MW), the Nigerian Defence Academy (2.6MW), and the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
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Looking ahead, contractors are expected to complete the new projects within seven to nine months.
“We want our universities to enjoy uninterrupted power,” Adelabu said.
“These upgrades will completely transform the learning and healthcare environments.”
Rural Solar Projects In Focus
In addition, the FEC endorsed another project focused on Agricultural Centres of Excellence in underserved rural areas.
Under this plan, officials will deploy solar-powered equipment to boost productivity in micro and small-scale agro-enterprises.
“This goes beyond simply lighting homes,” Adelabu added.
“We’re introducing power solutions that support rural businesses and agricultural processing.”
Through these targeted actions, the federal government is actively addressing long-standing power gaps, unlocking opportunity in education, healthcare, and rural enterprise development.
