FG Commissions 3MW Solar Power Project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja

The Federal Government has commissioned a 3-megawatt (3MW) solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja, formerly known as the University of Abuja, in a move aimed at improving electricity supply for teaching, research and other essential activities on campus. The project was commissioned on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, under Phase II of the Federal Government’s Energising Education Programme (EEP). The initiative is being implemented through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with support from the World Bank-funded Nigeria Electrification Project. The facility features a 3.3MW solar array, with approximately 3MW of AC output capacity, as well as 2MWh of battery storage designed to support critical university facilities beyond daylight hours. The new power system is expected to support classrooms, laboratories, digital services, administrative facilities and other essential operations within the university. The project also includes 388 solar-powered streetlights, which are expected to improve visibility and security around the campus. Speaking during the commissioning, Power Minister Joseph Tegbe said the government was looking at extending reliable electricity to other parts of the university, including student hostels. Tegbe reportedly gave the Rural Electrification Agency a six-month timeline to work towards extending reliable electricity coverage across the remaining areas of the institution. The minister also urged students and staff to protect the infrastructure from vandalism, stressing that maintaining the facility would be essential to sustaining its benefits. Beyond providing electricity, the project also has a skills-development component. Reports indicate that about 300 students were trained in renewable-energy technologies as part of the programme, giving young Nigerians practical exposure to an industry that is becoming increasingly important to the country’s energy transition. The Rural Electrification Agency said the wider Energising Education Programme has already delivered renewable-energy infrastructure to 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals, with more than 100MW of clean energy deployed. For students and staff of Yakubu Gowon University, the commissioning represents a significant investment in campus infrastructure, with the government expecting more reliable electricity to support learning, research, digital activities and other university operations. The bigger question now will be whether the new facility can be properly maintained and expanded to cover the remaining parts of the campus, particularly student accommodation.