A solar photovoltaic installation was officially inaugurated on May 31, 2024, at the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at Bayero University in Kano, Nigeria. The installation, with a capacity of 79kwp of solar PV, 58kw of inverter, and 60KWH of battery storage, was funded by the ECOWAS Commission through the ECOWAS Special Intervention Fund (ESIF). The project aims to provide stable and sustainable electricity to the department and the university community.
The inauguration ceremony saw attendance from key figures including Sediko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Internal Affairs; Professor Mohamed Sani Gumel, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Bayero University; and Engr. Samuel Bem Ayangeaor from Nigeria's Renewable and Rural Power Access Department.
Professor Mohamed Sani Gumel expressed gratitude to ECREEE for enabling the project. "The project is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and shared vision," he said. He emphasized that it symbolizes innovation and sustainability while enhancing the university’s research capacity in renewable energy technologies.
Sediko Douka conveyed optimism about the project's impact on the university community. "This solar project will serve as a model for clean energy development for other educational institutions in Nigeria," he stated. He also praised Bayero University's Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering for managing the facility’s operations and maintenance.
Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma highlighted that this initiative aligns with broader goals for cleaner energy access. He mentioned ongoing efforts such as establishing the $75 million ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Facility (EREEEF) to support sustainable energy projects across West Africa.
Engr. Samuel Bem Ayangeaor commended both ECOWAS Commission and ECREEE for their roles in deploying off-grid renewable energy technologies in West Africa. He noted that this project contributes towards Nigeria’s Energy Access targets under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) aligned with the Paris Agreement and its Energy Transition Plan (ETP) aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.
The ESIF is financed by the ECOWAS Commission and implemented by ECREEE based in Praia, Cabo Verde. It provides non-reimbursable co-funding grants for clean energy solutions targeting rural areas with an emphasis on productive uses of electricity.
Similar projects are being implemented by ECREEE across other ECOWAS Member States.
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