The Modibbo Adama University Yola has established a 5 Megawatts solar farm to tackle the energy deficit for students on campus.
The deputy vice-chancellor academic, Professor Iliyasu Audu, made the disclosure yesterday during the institution’s second Annual International Conference of the Faculty of Education.
Audu pointed out that the solar farm would meet up to 1.8 Megawatts of the institution’s needs, primarily for its consumption to aid learning and research.
The solar power panel farm is an initiative of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in conjunction with the National Universities Commission seeking to provide alternative electricity to universities under the Energising Education Program (EEP).
In October, the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) placed the university on band A with a tariff of over N60 million monthly, which the institution had to source for alternative energy.
Earlier, Adamawa State deputy governor Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, who initiated the conference 20 years ago, tasked tertiary institutions with using research and innovation to inspire practical and lasting solutions to the myriad financial constraints facing universities.
Farauta said solutions should be sought locally, stressing that various departments need to encourage and cultivate a culture of innovation, ingenuity, and technology for funding.
In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Michael Cyril, described it as unfortunate that Nigeria has yet to meet the UNESCO recommendation that at least 26 per cent of the total budget should be allocated to the education sector.
Cyril added, “We must explore creative and practical situations to address the funding gaps and enhance the financial sustainability of universities.”
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