FG Launches ₦3.8 Billion Solar Mini-Grid Project at ADUSTECH Wudil
By Maikudi Muhammad Marafa
The Federal Government has officially launched a ₦3.8 billion, 2-megawatt Solar Mini-Grid Project at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil, as part of efforts to strengthen energy security in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Renewed Hope Agenda Solarisation Project on Friday, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, described the initiative as a strategic national policy rather than an act of philanthropy.
According to the Minister, the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that no federal institution of higher learning remains energy insecure.
“We are on that path and will continue, state by state and institution by institution, until that vision is fully realized,” he stated.
Dr. Udeh emphasized that the Renewed Hope Solarisation Initiative is not just a project but a long-term programme, with the ADUSTECH installation representing a critical milestone.
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He noted that institutions focused on science, technology, and innovation require reliable energy infrastructure to function effectively, stressing that modern research, laboratory work, and international academic collaborations depend heavily on stable power supply.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, said the 2MW installation is only the beginning of a broader plan.
He disclosed that the Commission’s long-term target is to scale the project to a 7-megawatt solar mini-grid to fully meet the university’s energy needs.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Musa Tukur Yakasai, described the project as the most significant infrastructure development in the institution’s 25-year history.
He expressed deep appreciation to the Director General of ECN, the Honourable Minister, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar, for their roles in facilitating the project.
Also speaking, the Emir of Gaya, Alhaji (Dr.) Aliyu Abdulkadir Ibrahim, commended the initiative and urged the university management to ensure its proper and judicious utilization.
In a statement signed by Abdullahi Datti Abdullahi Deputy Registrar Information & Public Affairs Unit Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State further disclosed that, the solar mini-grid project is expected to significantly improve power supply within the university, thereby enhancing teaching, research, and overall academic productivity.
