The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced a special intervention aimed at mitigating persistent power failures plaguing tertiary institutions nationwide.
This initiative, revealed by TETFund Board of Trustees Chairman Aminu Masari during the inauguration of the steering committee for the Alternative Energy Solution Initiative on Wednesday in Abuja, signifies a renewed commitment to bolstering education and research through reliable energy solutions.
Masari emphasized the critical role of consistent power supply in fostering effective learning and research environments, a resource frequently lacking in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
“We all know the combination of many factors to include the increase in tarrif which has become unbearable for these institutions, coupled withe other issues,” he stated, highlighting the financial strain and operational challenges imposed by unreliable power.
The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader efforts, including the Rural Electrification Agency’s (REA) plans to deploy captive solar hybrid power plants in 15 federal tertiary institutions and two teaching hospitals, part of a wider push to improve electricity access for underserved Nigerians.
The REA’s progress, marked by the deployment of over 67 mini-grids and 995,396 solar home systems, demonstrates a commitment to sustainable and decentralized energy solutions.
While the exact timeline for project completion remains unspecified, the newly inaugurated steering committee, tasked with submitting its preliminary report within two months, is expected to play a crucial role in the implementation process.
The TETFund’s intervention, coupled with existing government initiatives, signals a concerted effort to address the energy deficit in tertiary education, ultimately aiming to enhance the quality of education and research output.
