MAKURDI — The Federal Government has officially commissioned a 3-Megawatt (3MW) hybrid solar off-grid power plant at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (formerly Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi), Benue State.
Executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Energizing Education Programme (EEP), the solar infrastructure will deliver uninterrupted, clean power to over 25,000 students, academic staff, and medical facilities across the campus.
Alongside the plant’s commissioning, the Federal Government celebrated the graduation of 300 female engineering and science students who underwent intensive technical training under the EEP’s Female STEM Workshop—equipping them with practical skills in solar design, installation, and renewable microgrid maintenance.
Key Infrastructure & Capacity Building Highlights
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3MW Clean Energy Infrastructure: Features a 3MW solar PV array, high-capacity battery energy storage systems (BESS), and a modernized distribution network to replace expensive diesel generator dependency across the university.
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Energizing Education Programme (EEP): Phase II of the EEP targets off-grid solar deployments across federal universities and teaching hospitals to ensure uninterrupted power for learning, research, and healthcare delivery.
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Gender-Inclusive Technical Upskilling: 300 female undergraduate trainees completed hands-on project management, photovoltaic system assembly, and operational safety training directly on the FUAM plant site.
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Macroeconomic & Environmental Yields: The project cuts institutional carbon emissions significantly, reduces operational university running costs, and creates local technical maintenance jobs within the Makurdi economic corridor.
