The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) is partnering with a United States (US) energy company to build a 500 megawatts solar power plant.
According to the Vice-Chancellor of Unilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, who made the disclosure while speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday, the partnership is part of the efforts of his administration to tackle the challenge of power supply in Nigeria.
He said: “The 500 megawatts is too much for the university alone to utilize; in fact, we in the university require just a maximum of four megawatts.
“Which means the extra 496 megawatts would have to be given to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, either the immediate community or nationwide. I think that is what is being processed.
“We have had talks with various stakeholders who are going to be party to the consumption and payment of the 496 megawatts because the project is going to cost about 1.5 billion dollars,” Ambali added.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the American company, Mr Brain Travis said the selection of Unilorin as its partner was because the university had many reliable innovative projects.
Travis, who described the project as the largest solar plant in Africa, said it would help empower the locals in terms of employment and training.
He said the project would be completed in 18 months.
