News
As preparations advance towards the commissioning of the solar hybrid power project at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), under the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) Phase II, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, paid a courtesy visit to the Rural Electrification Agency’s – Nigeria Electrification Programme (REA-NEP) on Friday, 16 May 2025.
This strategic engagement, focused on deepening collaboration to ensure a seamless transition into the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) phase of the project. The Head, Nigeria Electrification Programme, Mr. Olufemi Akinyelure, emphasised that strong institutional support will be critical for the plant’s long-term performance, sustainability, and continued impact.
In the spirit of building local capacity, the NEP’s Project Management Unit also proposed, albeit informally, the nomination of 100 students, across disciplines and gender, for technical training in renewable energy, during the O&M phase, at the Workshop & Training Centre built as part of the EEP II. This follows the earlier training of 20 female Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students during the construction phase, further demonstrating the programme’s commitment to inclusive knowledge transfer and youth empowerment.
Professor Iwe while applauding the progress of the EEP II at MOUAU, remarked on the transformational impact of clean, reliable power on learning and research. “This project has left the university brighter,” he said. “A well-lit environment is the best that can happen to education and research. Whatever we can jointly do to sustain this, we will wholeheartedly welcome.”
To further accentuate the long-term vision of the programme, Mr. Olufemi Akinyelure, also presented Professor Iwe with the NEP’s flagship legacy Photobook New Energies. The publication documents the programme’s wide-reaching impact across key sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and MSMEs, and serves as a testament to NEP’s commitment to inclusive national development through energy access.
