An interesting but not often talked about link between the level of power supply in Nigeria’s universities and the quality of graduates they produce has probably informed the decision of some of the nation’s policy makers to attend to the power needs of its higher institutions. A new initiative, announced by federal ministers on Wednesday, would see to the supply of electricity to the country’s ivory towers, creating the right environment for lecturers and students to study and conduct research.
At a meeting with Vice Chancellors and Directors of Physical Planning of the universities, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, both said that their respective ministries were in sync with each other as far as the planning and implementation of the project was concerned. The ministers disclosed that the plan would be executed through Public Private Partnership (PPP), and bring to life new off grid independent power projects (IPPs) to bear the burden of the demand for power from the universities.
The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Power, Damilola Ogunbiyi, tried to allay concerns about possible effects of emissions by the power plants which would be supplying electricity to the universities. She said that the plants to be provided would meet global standards and would function efficiently.
Also speaking at the meeting in Abuja, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, who represented the Minister of Education, explained that the power project is to be executed as part of her ministry’s Energizing Education Programme.
The plan to light up the nation’s Federal Universities will be implemented within the next 18 months, government officials say.
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