The 3MW solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja, has been commissioned by the Federal Government as part of efforts to provide more reliable electricity to the institution.
The project was commissioned in Abuja on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, under Phase II of the Federal Government’s Energising Education Programme (EEP), with support from the World Bank.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said the project would benefit about 58,726 students at the university.
He said reliable electricity would support teaching, research and other academic activities. It would also reduce the university’s dependence on diesel generators and ease pressure on its budget.
According to the Rural Electrification Agency, the project has a 3MW AC output capacity. It also includes solar generation, battery storage and a dedicated connection to support electricity supply across the campus.
The 3MW solar hybrid power project also forms part of a wider government programme to improve electricity supply in federal universities and teaching hospitals.
Tegbe said the government’s investment in power infrastructure should help connect electricity supply with education, research and human development.
He linked the project to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying investments in electricity should support services and productive activities that improve people’s lives.
The university is expected to use the new power infrastructure to strengthen academic work and reduce the disruption caused by unreliable electricity.
The project also includes a renewable energy workshop and training centre. The facility is designed to provide practical exposure to renewable energy technologies and support skills development.
However, the long-term impact of the 3MW solar hybrid power project will depend on effective maintenance and responsible use of the infrastructure.
The project is one of several interventions under the Energising Education Programme, which aims to provide cleaner and more reliable electricity to critical public institutions.
