FG Says Solar Power Deployment Is Cutting Energy Costs Across Nigerian Universities

The Federal Government has said the installation of off-grid solar power systems in universities and other educational institutions is helping to reduce energy costs while creating more reliable conditions for teaching, learning and research.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while speaking during a podcast interview, where he highlighted the impact of renewable energy interventions on Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

The solar projects are being implemented through the Energising Education Programme (EEP), an initiative executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to provide reliable electricity to educational institutions using renewable energy solutions.

According to Alausa, universities have for years struggled with high electricity expenses and unreliable power from the national grid. These challenges, he said, have affected academic activities, scientific research and the general quality of life on university campuses.

The minister explained that frequent power outages have placed additional financial pressure on institutions, forcing many to depend heavily on diesel generators to keep essential facilities running. The high cost of diesel and maintenance, he noted, has made conventional power supply increasingly difficult to sustain.

Alausa said the government’s approach is to provide universities with dedicated solar mini-grids that can operate independently of the national transmission network. The strategy, he explained, is intended to provide institutions with a more stable and predictable source of electricity.

He stressed that reliable power is essential to the development of modern universities, particularly as students require electricity for evening studies, while laboratories and research centres need uninterrupted power for experiments and specialised equipment.

The minister also pointed to the importance of electricity for university-owned hospitals and other critical facilities, which require dependable power supplies and have traditionally relied on costly diesel generators during grid outages.

Alausa said moving universities towards dedicated renewable energy systems would help protect academic and residential facilities from disruptions caused by failures on the national grid.

The initiative is expected to support a more conducive learning environment while helping institutions manage their energy expenditure more efficiently. It also aligns with the Federal Government’s wider efforts to increase renewable energy adoption and improve electricity access across public institutions.

The minister maintained that universities should not have to choose between keeping essential facilities operational and managing rising energy costs. He said the transition to solar-powered campuses would contribute to a more sustainable education system while reducing dependence on diesel-powered generators.

With the continued deployment of solar mini-grids under the Energising Education Programme, the government hopes to strengthen electricity supply in tertiary institutions and create better conditions for students, lecturers, researchers and healthcare workers operating within university environments.