The erratic public power supply to the University would soon be a thing of the past as the World Bank-sponsored 3MW Hybrid Solar Project in the University is taking shape with the installation of electricity poles in the core areas of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta campus, International School (FUNIS), Institute of Human Resources Development (INHURD), Institute of Food, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Zoo Park and FUNAAB Staff School.
The Director, Works and Services Department, Engr. Olawole Akinyele disclosed that the project was birthed in December 2022, when the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde signed a Collaboration Agreement with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), an Agency of the Federal Government monitoring the project.
Engr. Akinyele stated that the Project is hybrid and that it has been installed with four backup generators of 1,000 MW each.
He added that the Project’s Training Centre has started and the installation of the Module Mountain Structure (MMS), on which the solar panels would be placed is also in progress.
According to him, the solar panels are 3MW each, and 6,000 panels are expected to be installed on the solar field, close to the Directorate of Works and Services.
While taking FUNAAB Bulletin on a guided familiarisation tour of the Project, the Director stated that 20 female Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), students of the University were being trained for knowledge transfer.
Engr. Akinyele observed that over 300 street lights would also be placed at different strategic spots within the campus.
Besides, the Director noted that the Project was expected to be completed by the end of February 2024.
Advising the entire University community, the Director enjoined all users to endeavour to switch off their electrical appliances before leaving their various offices to make judicious use of available energy.
It would be recalled that the Solar Power Project came on board five years ago during which FUNAAB had scaled through the preliminary processes to reach the implementation stage in 2023.
The Director was in the company of the Engr. Charles Edebeatu, Engr. Daniels Iheanacho and Engr. Farouk Ola, who are the Project Contractor and Consultants.
