$500m Solar Plan Targets Power Crisis in Nigerian Universities
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s public universities could soon enjoy uninterrupted electricity as a proposed $500 million solar energy investment seeks to end persistent power outages that have disrupted teaching, research and campus operations across the country.
The proposal was unveiled in Abuja during the launch of the Tinubu Light Initiative, organised by the National Board for Technology Incubation under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Chief Executive Officer of Gigawatt Global, Yosef Abramowitz, said the company is willing to finance up to 90 per cent of the cost of solar power projects for eligible universities that meet internationally recognised Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) requirements and other project conditions.
He explained that each participating institution could receive a solar power plant with a generation capacity of 10 to 20 megawatts, enough to meet campus electricity demand while supplying surplus power to surrounding communities through prepaid metering.
Abramowitz said the initiative would significantly reduce dependence on diesel generators, lower energy costs and provide reliable electricity for laboratories, classrooms, hostels, internet services and research facilities.
He added that Nigerian companies would play key roles in operating and maintaining the plants, creating jobs while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the projects.
The proposal comes as many public universities struggle with soaring electricity bills and rising diesel costs, forcing institutions to spend billions of naira annually to sustain academic activities.
The investment aligns with the Federal Government’s broader renewable energy agenda under the Tinubu Light Initiative, which aims to expand clean energy access, support economic growth, create employment and improve electricity supply nationwide.
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Oluwatobi Adu 