OSINBAJO COMMISSIONED HEALTH AUDITORIUM AND OTHERS IN EBONYI STATE
The number two citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, On 2nd of August, 2019 commissioned a 2.8Megawatts decentralized Solar Hybrid Power Plant at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State.
Expressing joy at the number of students and staff the project will be beneficial to, Prof. Osinbajo said the days are over when students study without electricity. He also revealed that it is the first to be commissioned out of 37 Federal Universities and 7 teaching hospitals.
“This project will provide sustainable decentralized energy to the entire campus, improve education and create a better university experience for both students and staff. Gone are the days where students read at night with candles lanterns and torches. Our young people are willing to learn and they have aspirations. It is our duty to aid them to accomplish their goals by providing a conducive learning environment for them. I am glad to be part of this great feat as we commission this 2.8MW decentralized Solar Hybrid Power Plant that will supply 7,700 students and 1,819 staff of Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo(FUNAI), with clean, reliable and affordable electric power. ”
“This multi-beneficial project is the first to be commissioned of 37 federal universities and 7 teaching hospitals that this administration will implement under it’s Energizing Educational Programme in the next years.”
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo also noted other similar projects to be commissioned under President Buhari’s administration.
“We will also be commissioning the projects at Bayero University Kano(BUK), Kano State and Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun(FUPRE), Delta State, over the next couple of months.”
Yemi Osinbajo also commissioned the Ultra-modern State-of-the-art 500-Seater Auditorium at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, 700-Seater Lecturer Halls, newly-installed Electronic Medical Recording /Revenue Collection System of the Hospital, the Observation Bay built by a Non-Governmental Organization Médecines Sans Frontièrs (Doctors Without Borders)-Belgium.
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo further disclosed the plan of the Federal Government to work in collaboration in order to achieve a certain level of success in different sectors in the country. According to him:
“We as a Federal Government, are actively working to ensure universal access to electrification in Nigeria, through decentralized/off-grid power solutions; Increased access to modern quality education that makes effective use of facilities that requires adequate power supply, such as our science laboratories, design and technology workshops and information technology resources; Conducive, safe and secure learning environments, with the aim to eradicate cultism, rape, kidnapping and any other criminal activities that may occur; Empowerment of the girl child in Nigeria, through the provision of education/training programmes for STEM (Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and dedicated training on renewable energy through world-class energy training centre we have built; improved quality healthcare services which will ultimately reduce mortality rates in our healthcare institutions; Development and implementation of projects that will enable Nigeria to meet her obligations under the Paris Agreement, as it concerns climate change ; and Creation of jobs in the value chain of power sector.”
He congratulated all who contributed to the success of the projects.
In his address at the Federal University, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, expressed enthusiasm over the project, especially the fact that it is the first to be commissioned of many others and its benefits.
“This project is in line the Federal Government’s development goals to improve electricity access in Nigeria. I am thrilled that this achievement is happening in Ebonyi State and is the first of many to be commissioned under the Energizing Education Programme(EEP), by the Rural Electrification Agency. Ebonyi State is committed ensuring that high-quality education is accessible to all – an education that produces driven, skilled and talented professionals that will be the engine for our growth and development as a nation.
The FUNAI community will enjoy the benefits of clean and reliable electricity while some students will have the opportunity to receive practical training on renewable energy technologies. The skills that these students will learn will indeed be beneficial to the state and the entire country.”
Governor Umahi further expressed joy over the just concluded Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) and congratulated the Young Women who participated in this Female STEM Internship programme.
In his address of welcome, the Vice-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, recalled that Ebonyi State was one of the backsliding states in terms of education, saying that the past 8years brought about educational light to the institution. He also noted how privileged Ebonyi is to the first beneficiary.
“You may be unaware, but Ebonyi State used to be among one of the educationally disadvantaged states. But over the last 8years since the establishment of this university, we have grown by leaps and bounds.”
“We are indeed privileged to be the first set of beneficiaries of the Energizing Education Programme under implementation by the Rural Electrification Agency. It is already transforming the way we teach, learn and live.”
By Udo Akam-Alo.
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