The Federal Government has taken a decisive step toward providing sustainable energy to the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), with plans for a one-megawatt solar electrification project.
The initiative, facilitated by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), is part of a broader national programme aimed at supplying renewable energy to 16 selected universities across Nigeria.
According to Dr. Bolaji Olaomo, the Personal Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor on Current Issues, FUNATO stands as a key beneficiary in the South-West zone, alongside Adeyemi University of Education and the Federal University of Health Sciences, Oyan.
On February 6, 2026, university management, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jacob Babayemi, held a high-level consultative meeting with the REA delegation and the Onjo-in-Council, the traditional advisory body of the host community, to kick off project protocols.
Mr. David Ogunsawe, a technical consultant leading the REA team, emphasised that the current phase focuses on compliance and sustainability.
“The assessment is a prerequisite for the solar electrification project, which has already received approval and is scheduled to commence within the next few months,” he said.
The project is structured as a public-private partnership, aligned with the Federal Government’s Solar Power Naija and Energising Education Programme.
It aims to leverage technical expertise and sustainable financing while promoting green energy on campus. The university will allocate approximately 75 acres of its permanent site to host the solar array and supporting infrastructure.
Responding to the requirement, Prof. Babayemi expressed the institution’s full support: “We see this as a foundational step toward our goal of becoming a tech-driven centre of excellence,” he said.
To facilitate coordination between technical teams and the host community, the Vice-Chancellor appointed Alhaji Isiaka Salawu, a respected community elder, as liaison for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment team.
The solar electrification project is expected to enhance FUNATO’s infrastructure, reduce dependence on conventional energy sources, and provide students and staff with reliable, sustainable power.
It reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering technology-driven education and promoting renewable energy solutions across Nigerian universities.
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