By Martin Paul
Abuja
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and his counterpart, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, are collaborating through the Energising Education Programme Initiative (EEPI) to provide stable power supply to 40 Federal Universities in the country.
This step, according to a press release signed by Deputy Director (Press) Mr. Ben Bem Goong, would be through the utilisation of off-grid Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and Public Private Partnership (PPP) structures.
The two ministers disclosed this at an interactive session with the Vice Chancellors and Directors of Physical Planning of all the 40 Federal Universities held Wednesday in Abuja.
Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry; Dr. Folashade Yemi- Esan, stated that Power, Works & Housing Ministry initiated the Energising Education (EE) programme to provide uninterrupted and dedicated power supply to all the Federal Universities through the utilisation of off-grid Independent Power Projects.
Commending the initiative, the minister added that this would also be an avenue to train students especially those in the faculty of engineering on how to utilise various energy sources in their respective departments.
Fashola, who was represented by the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Baba Shehuri, stated that the programme was aimed at providing reliable power supply, which he said, would promote economic growth and sustainable development in universities.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Power, Damilola Ogunbiyi, in her presentation, highlighted the objectives of providing consistent power supply to these critical and historic educational institutions.
She added that their productivity, efficacy and professionalism would be significantly boosted in the areas of research, teaching and learning with a remarkable impact on the quality of graduates from these institutions.
