The federal authorities, by way of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), on Friday inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony of a 2-megawatt solar hybrid project worth N3.8 billion at the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil, in Kano State.
The project, underneath the flagship Renewed Hope Solarisation project of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, additionally witnessed the commissioning of 200 solar-powered streetlights throughout the establishment.
The director-general of the Commission, Mustapha Abdullahi, alongside the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu-Udeh (SAN), carried out the groundbreaking ceremony at the college.
Mr Abdullahi stated contractors dealing with the project had been given a mandate of three months to finish the work.
He stated the project was designed to supply sustainable vitality era for the establishment and handle its month-to-month electrical energy bills of N22.4 million.
“Today’s groundbreaking at Wudil follows our ceremony at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in September 2025, where a 4MW system is being installed, and last week’s groundbreaking at Bayero University Kano.
“Each project is a standalone delivery and a building block in a national programme covering hospitals and tertiary institutions in all 36 states and the FCT.
“The contract for this project, worth N3.8 billion, has been awarded to Safiatu Global Resources Limited with a firm three-month completion mandate, no variation in contract sum, and full accountability under the Commission’s project monitoring framework,” he stated.
Mr Abdullahi stated each groundbreaking underneath the programme is preceded by rigorous technical work, together with vitality audits, load assessments, web site surveys, and system design.
According to him, “Our team arrived on this campus with that precise mandate, and the findings were unambiguous. ADUSTECH is home to a combined population of 24,339 persons: 2,462 staff, and hostel facilities providing 5,200 bed spaces.
“Against that scale of activity, the assessed actual energy demand on this campus ranges between 12.3 and 16.4 megawatts. Yet the total connected load on utility records stands at only 8.26 megawatts, a figure that already exceeds what the grid reliably delivers.”
He famous that the establishment spends a mean of N22.4 million each month on electrical energy payments, whereas its whole on-site diesel backup capability quantities to a mere 2.07 megavolt-amperes.
“This is the energy reality that confronts a university of this mandate and ambition. It is unacceptable, and it is what we are here to begin addressing.”
He stated that primarily based on the complete load profile and the 59 hectares of accessible land recognized inside a 2.5-kilometre radius of the campus, the Energy Commission’s technical suggestion is a 7-megawatt solar mini-grid as the whole resolution for vitality wants.
Also talking, Mr Tochukwu-Udeh, stated the set up of the 2MW project within the establishment will not be an act of philanthropy, however a strategic nationwide coverage and nationwide motion underneath the Renewed Hope Solarization project.
He stated the federal authorities is making these investments as a result of it believes in what the establishment and others are doing by way of groundbreaking improvements to supply options to essentially the most urgent challenges confronted by Nigerians.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the college, Musa Tukur-Yakasai, stated the landmark occasion represents not simply an infrastructural milestone however a daring step in the direction of sustainable vitality, innovation, and educational excellence.
Mr Tukur-Yakasai stated the intervention is a major step in strengthening the establishment’s educational and analysis capability.
(NAN)
