The Federal Government has announced that plans are well underway to establish Nigeria’s first Renewable Energy University, in collaboration with key development partners.
This disclosure was made by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, during a roundtable meeting between the REA and the Lagos State Government, held in Victoria Island.
According to Aliyu, the university will mark a significant milestone in Africa’s energy transition journey.
“We are working with development partners to establish the first Renewable University in Nigeria. It’s going to be the first green university in Africa,” he said.
He, however, noted that the location for the university is yet to be finalised.
“We have not yet decided on where we are going to site that university. If Lagos works very hard, we may site it in Lagos,” he added.
In addition to the university, the REA is also planning the creation of a Renewable Asset Management Company, which will be responsible for overseeing renewable energy investments and infrastructure across the country.
“We have gotten approval through the Honourable Minister of Power for the establishment of Renewable Asset Management Company.
This company is going to be the holder of renewable assets in the entire country and it will continue to ensure sustainability of all our interventions across the country. It’s going to be a N1 trillion company that we have already secured the approval for, and we will start the process.
Where we will site this renewable asset company is yet unknown,” he stressed.
Aliyu further revealed the Agency’s plan to pioneer a floating solar power plant in Lagos, specifically at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
“We want to seek the approval of the state to pioneer the first floating solar power plant in Lagos. With the unique challenge of limited land availability in Lagos State, we want to deploy an 8-megawatt plant at the University of Lagos.
We want to seek the approval of the state to allow us to make it a floating solar panel which will be the first of its kind in Nigeria. We hope that the approval will be granted to us,” he said.
Responding, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, expressed the state’s interest in hosting the proposed university.
Hamzat requested further engagement from the REA to understand the requirements necessary to secure the hosting rights.
“Show us what it will entail to win the hosting right of the university,” he said.
