The Federal Government has approved a one-megawatt solar electrification project for the newly established Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), in Oyo State, as part of a nationwide initiative to expand sustainable energy access to tertiary institutions.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is facilitating the project, which is one of 16 solar power interventions targeted at select federal universities under the Solar Power Naija and Energising Education Programme frameworks.
A statement from the office of FUNATO’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olaniyi Jacob Babayemi, said the institution, a key beneficiary in the South-West zone, recently held a consultative meeting with REA officials and traditional leaders of the host community to begin execution protocols.
Mr. David Ogunsawe, a technical consultant leading the REA team, said the current stage focuses on compliance and sustainability assessments, which are prerequisites to project commencement. He stated that the solar electrification plan has received formal approval and is expected to begin within the next few months.
The initiative will be implemented through a public-private partnership model, aligning with federal efforts to leverage external expertise and sustainable financing for renewable energy infrastructure.
To accommodate the solar array and supporting infrastructure, FUNATO has been asked to allocate about 75 acres on its permanent site. Vice-Chancellor Babayemi confirmed the university’s readiness to provide the required land immediately, framing the project as foundational to its mission of becoming a technology-driven centre of excellence.
In a bid to ensure effective coordination with the host community and compliance with environmental standards, the Vice-Chancellor appointed community elder Alhaji Isiaka Salawu as the primary liaison for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment team.
The solar project at FUNATO forms part of a broader federal strategy to provide reliable, emission-free power to public institutions, reduce dependence on diesel generators, and improve learning environments across Nigeria’s university system.
