Although electricity was introduced in Nigeria over a century ago, the country is yet to attain self-sufficiency in supply as many areas are yet to be connected to the national grid, aside those whose experience epileptic power supply.
According to the World Bank, 85 million Nigerians, about 43 per cent of the country’s population lack access to grid electricity, and this happens to put Nigeria within the poor record of a country with the worlds’ largest energy access deficit.
Against this backdrop and in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has gone into partnership with an indigenous company, Asolar Limited, in the alternative energy sector, to manufacture NASENI’s Solar Home Solution for use in Nigeria’s urban, semi urban and rural areas.
All over the world, investment in solar energy has been a smart business move and in Nigeria the transition to solar energy can drive economic growth, create jobs and enhance the quality of life for millions of Nigerians.
NASENI has been at the forefront of bridging the energy gap for the country out of massive necessity. Nigeria with a population of over 220 million people currently suffer severe energy deficit. Nigeria’s national grid generates within a range of just 4,000 -5,000 megawatts of electricity, compared to countries like South Africa with far less population yet produces about 58,000 megawatts of electricity.
Judging from the above, the investment in solar solutions appears to be the smart option and having the enormous potential in this sector and NASENI is already driving the process.
To this end, the Agency is expanding its innovative Solar Home Solutions to provide power sustainability to Nigeria’s underserved communities in line with its intervention towards clean and affordable energy.
The Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has maintained that the Agency has the capacity to provide this eco-friendly initiative to the communities by engaging in mass production of NASENI Home Solar Solution, solar panels and batteries.
The NASENI Home Solar Solution with the slogan “lighting homes and offices and making electricity available to everyone,” was the product of the creative thinking of Mr. Halilu and the hard-working team. The programme has ensured safety and security at home and is helping Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to function effectively all of which drive the economic growth of the nation.
The NASENI Solar Home Solution consists of two sets of products, namely the Basic System and the Fan System and it is built to power homes and offices. The Basic light system has a battery capacity of 38 Watt-hour, Solar panel capacity of 20 Watt-hour and battery strength to last 7 hours after sunset. It consists of 20 Watt panel, two USB charging points and a radio.
The Fan System comes with 84 Watt-hour battery capacity and 50 Watt panel capacity and lasts 7 hours after sunset. When fully charged, the light can last up to 32 hours, the radio set and fan can last up to ten hours respectively.
Already the NASENI Homes Solar Solution is being used in the homes particularly in rural areas. A proof of this is in Kawu village in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja where a population of over 1,000 people, not connected to the national grid, majority of who now depend on NASENI’s Home Solar Solution to power their homes and shops.
Mr. Mukailu Madaki Kawu, a resident of Kawu village in Bwari Area Council of the FCT expressed his satisfaction with the NASENI Solar Home Solution and advised residents of the community to patronize the Agency’s products.
He said: “I bought this NASENI Home Solar Solution because of my children because when they come back from School we put on the light and teach them. Surely, I am really enjoying it especially in the hot season. I put on my fan and enjoy with my family. The Solar home solution lightens the house and I advise the community to patronize these NASENI products because of the value they bring. I also enjoy the radio.”
Recently, NASENI donated its Solar Home Solution and Cookstoves to constituents of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos state to support the Light-Up Ibeji-Lekki Project organized by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, (South-West), Moremi Ojudu.
The empowerment event which took place recently in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, was part of the Federal Government’s grassroots energy intervention to power homes and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the Ibeju-Lekki community in order to boost productivity, reduce unemployment and support the people to gain more capital for expansion.
Ojudu captured the moment in her remarks when she declared that the initiative was part of fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for a meaningful development and to alleviate the challenges of Nigerians.
The initiative supported by NASENI, is being executed in partnership with the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area Council to further the vision of distributing Home Solar Solutions to households and small businesses – bringing clean, sustainable and affordable energy straight to the grassroots, especially as the community is known for its high but vibrant population.
“This Programme is aimed at improving access to clean, reliable and sustainable energy at the community level by reducing the electricity burden on families and business owners while stimulating economic growth. We are bringing development to every corner-education, entrepreneurship, technology, agriculture, infrastructure and healthcare”, Ojudu remarked.
The NASENI boss, Halilu sounded more optimistic about the impact of the initiative to the beneficiaries, stressing that it is the latest in the strategic plans of NASENI to empower more citizens and help them to reduce the high cost of energy consumption.
Represented by Chief Engr. Adesoji Oyedeji, Manufacturing Services Department, NASENI, Halilu said: “The Light Up Ibeju-Lekki Project perfectly embodies the 3Cs of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization of NASENI, which aligns closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visionary Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The project is a shining example of effective collaboration—a partnership between the government, local communities and agencies like NASENI, working together to create new, high-quality products and technologies, such as the solar installations being deployed by locally trained youths.”
Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Engr. Abdullahi Sesan Olowa commended the efforts of the Federal Government and NASENI, noting that it aligns with the LGA’s own development priorities.
This NASENI’s innovative Home Solar Solution is helping the Light-Up Ibeju-Lekki project bring sustainable energy to the community and it has warmed the people’s hearts about the government’s plan to factor them into the industrialization drive of the country.
This initiative is part of the larger core mandate of NASENI, which includes developing Nigeria’s science, technology, and engineering infrastructure to enable it to drive industrialization and economic growth. NASENI’s mandate involves fostering research and development, promoting indigenous technology solutions, and providing the necessary infrastructure for local industries.
In this regard, NASENI is making high-level investments in large scale solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and accessories and is boosting the production of high capacity solar batteries, just as it has become pertinent for the Agency to focus on commercializable products.
Although, Nigeria still faces the challenge of imported solar panels, which affect the growth of local production, further investment by NASENI in this area through its Renewable Energy Park under construction in Gora, Nasarawa State, would be a game changer. It would provide opportunity for solar energy manufacturers, built locally for the Nigerian and African market and reduced dependence on imported ones and also end capital flight from the country.
This approach is helping to build a domestic solar workforce, reduce dependence on foreign contractors and keep technical knowledge within Nigeria’s borders. The Agency’s products are locally sourced. For NASENI, the solar initiative is not just about technology; it is about socio-economic transformation.
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