FG UNVEILS 581KWP SOLAR MINI-GRID IN KWARA

The Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency, has inaugurated a 581kWp interconnected solar mini-grid in Oke-Oyi community, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The project is aimed at expanding electricity access in the community and supporting economic activities among residents and businesses.

Developed by Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited, the project was implemented under the Rural Electrification Fund-Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme, with support from the German Cooperation and the European Union through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.

Inaugurating the project on Thursday, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the intervention reflected the government’s efforts to expand electricity access and ensure that investments in the power sector produced tangible benefits for Nigerians.

Tegbe said reliable electricity could improve livelihoods and create opportunities for businesses in Oke-Oyi, particularly for welders, grain millers and other small-scale enterprises.

He stressed the importance of maintaining completed electricity projects to ensure that beneficiary communities continued to enjoy the benefits of such investments.

The mini-grid has an installed capacity of 581kWp and consists of 1,336 solar panels and 84 batteries. It also includes about 10 kilometres of distribution cables and transformers supporting the electricity network.

The project is expected to serve about 13,000 residents, with electricity connections provided to both households and productive users.

According to the project stakeholders, the availability of electricity has already contributed to increased economic activity in Oke-Oyi.

Twelve welding businesses, two pure water companies, four grain mills, four aluminium businesses, an ice-block production business and a cold-room and ice-fish depot have emerged in the community.

Three electricity vendors are currently operating, while three additional vendors, including a female entrepreneur, are expected to be registered.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented at the event by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, welcomed the project.

The governor said improved electricity access was important to promoting enterprise, employment and community development across the state.

AbdulRazaq appreciated the Federal Government, REA and the development and private-sector partners involved in the project, expressing hope that the intervention would continue to support the growth of Oke-Oyi.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of REA, Abubakar Aliyu, said the project demonstrated the agency’s focus on ensuring that electrification investments generated measurable economic benefits for beneficiary communities.

Aliyu said the emergence of new businesses and expansion of productive activities in Oke-Oyi showed the economic value that reliable electricity could provide to rural communities.

He added that sustaining the project would remain a priority, stressing that communities, developers and other stakeholders had roles to play in protecting and maintaining the infrastructure.

The Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Karin Jansen, described the project as an example of how partnerships between government, development agencies, private companies and communities could support sustainable energy solutions.

She commended the Ministry of Power, REA, Kwara State Government, IBEDC, Nayo Tropical Technologies, the European Union, GIZ and the Oke-Oyi community for their contributions.

The community leader of Oke-Oyi, Oseni Elemoso, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, REA and the development partners, assuring them that residents would support efforts to protect the infrastructure.

The construction of the mini-grid also created temporary employment for residents working as painters, welders, bricklayers, iron benders, tilers, plumbers, borehole diggers and excavation labourers.

The Oke-Oyi project forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts through the Rural Electrification Agency to extend electricity to unserved and underserved communities while promoting renewable energy solutions for economic and social development.