Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the 12MW Solar Hybrid Power Plant for the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and its teaching hospital is nearing completion.
He stated this in his remarks at the formal handover of the Muhammadu Indimi International Learning Centre to the management of the University.
The Centre which was built and donated to the University of Maiduguri by a foremost businessman and philanthropist, Muhammadu Indimi, was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2021.
The vice president commended Indimi for the gesture, adding that the institution had, over the years, made strides in human capacity development in the country The Trumpet gathered.
“UNIMAID has trained many great Nigerians including the current Senate President, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and our very own, Prof. Babagana Zulum, Borno Governor. “ For UNIMAID to keep up with the fast pace of development in the world it needs enhanced investment; that investment cannot only come from the government.
“The forward-thinking and innovation to imagine; conceive and build a centre that allows for students in Maiduguri to interact and take lessons from Shanghai, Houston or Paris is exactly what is needed for this institution to keep pace and in certain respects lead the continued educational innovation we are experiencing.
“This centre will also allow for students to be enrolled in UNIMAID from Abuja, Lagos or even Johannesburg, expanding the enrolment base of the University and providing increased options for students to learn and interact.’’
The vice president said the Buhari administration would continue to invest in the nation’s tertiary institutions to achieve greater results. According to Osinbajo, UNIMAID is in phase 2 of the Energising Education Programme funded through the Rural Electrification Agency.
“The Federal Government through REA, in partnership with the World Bank, is in advanced stages of establishing a 12MW Solar Hybrid Power Plant to power UNIMAID and its Teaching Hospital.
“The project will also include a training centre and is modelled around similar projects that have already been completed in Bayero University Kano (BUK), the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM), Usman Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) and the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (FUNAI).
Prof. Osinbajo also disclosed plans by the Federal Government to augment grid supply and protect against energy sabotage in Maiduguri with the deployment of 30MW of solar power to critical areas of Maiduguri, Borno State.
“Additionally, I am pleased to announce that through the Economic Sustainability Plan approved by the president, NNPC, REA and Yola DISCO are partnering with my office and the Office of the Governor of Borno to deploy 30MW of Solar Power to critical areas of Maiduguri.
“This will be six solar plants of 5MW each to augment grid supply and protect against energy sabotage. “ Let me also say that the efforts of the Federal Government and private persons can only be truly useful where the state government is serious about the development.’’
Commending Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, for the leadership that has transformed infrastructure in the State. He said that Zulum had shown the benefits inherent in the government’s partnership with the private sector. Osinbajo said the governor had built several mega schools, massive commercial centres, over 8000 housing units and the first flyover in Borno.
The VP noted that “education is the spark behind every girl and boy child to maximize their potential. Alhaji Indimi’s work through his foundation continues to focus on education as a core area.” “Let me again commend and congratulate Indimi on the completion of this landmark project and the successful handing over of the International Learning Centre.’’
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Zulum, in his address, said he was greatly pleased with the presence of the vice president as the projects were another milestone in the state. The governor said that Indimi’s humanitarian and philanthropic efforts had impacted hugely on the lives of the people of the Borno state.
Indimi thanked the vice president for gracing the occasion, he said that his gesture was borne out of his passion for education and empowerment. UNIMAID ViceChancellor, Prof. Aliyu Shugaba, also expressed a profound appreciation of the people and government of Borno to Indimi. He said Indimi’s gesture was the first of its kind by any individual in Nigeria.
The event attracted members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, and traditional rulers among others.
