The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, has disclosed that the institution spent abo...
The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, has disclosed that the institution spent about ₦2 billion in the last few months on electricity supply to the Kaduna Electric Distribution Company.
Speaking at the launch of the ABU Energy and Innovation Challenge (ABUEIC) held at the Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, Zaria, Professor Ahmed explained that the university had taken deliberate steps to reduce the high cost of energy consumption. He said several committees were set up to curb wastage and promote efficient power management across the campus.
According to him, the ABU Energy and Innovation Challenge was initiated to find homegrown solutions to the persistent energy problems facing the university. The programme aims to engage students, staff, and alumni in developing clean and sustainable energy innovations that would help reduce the institution’s dependence on external sources.
Professor Ahmed further commended the Faculty of Engineering and the Chairman of ABUEIC, Dr. A.S. Abdulrasheed, for their commitment to addressing the university’s energy challenges. He also appreciated the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr. Abba Aliyu, for donating 450 solar streetlights to the institution.
Representing the REA boss, Dr. Bala Tyoden reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting tertiary institutions with reliable energy solutions. He said ABU remained one of the beneficiaries of REA’s major electricity projects and a key partner in promoting innovation within the energy sector.
Also speaking, the Director of the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Professor S.A. Jonah, emphasized that energy is the lifeblood of modern development and called for more research-driven solutions to Nigeria’s power challenges.
A representative of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, Engr. Hassana O. Abubakar, urged the university to explore public-private partnerships to develop sustainable energy systems, stressing that ABU had the intellectual capacity and technology to power itself.
The event, organized by the university’s management through the Public Affairs Directorate, underscored ABU’s renewed commitment to tackling its energy crisis through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices.
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