25 June 2013, Sokoto – The Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, has secured a grant of 4. 2 million dollars (about N67.2 million) from the World Bank for the production of solar panels.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in an interview on Tuesday in Sokoto that the grant was given to the institution’s Energy Research Centre.
Shehu said the project would be executed under the University’s Directorate of Science and Technology Post Basic Education (STEP-B) programme.
“The centre was recently selected as one of the few centres of excellence in renewable energy.
“So from now to the next one year, Insha Allah, the centre will commence the production of solar panels to reduce massive importation.
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“The grant is also for the conduct of research in renewable energy, training and the purchase of equipment for the project.
“The assorted equipment had since been purchased and they are expected soon in Nigeria from abroad,” Shehu told NAN.
He said that the project, was aimed at generating electricity to end the epileptic power supply in the state and Nigeria generally.
“It will also bolster our revenue base, enhance capacity building, as well as reduce the costs of the provision of renewable energy.”
