Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, will soon begin to generate and distribute electricity to the university community when the ongoing 8.03MW power project is completed.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede stated this at the press conference to herald the 60th anniversary of the institution on campus within the week.
The Vice Chancellor who said the institution has obtained Marketing License from the Transmission Corporation of Nigeria to distribute electricity to the university community said the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) 8.03MW power project would soon be completed.
He said this will enable OAU generate its own electricity hence reduce the economic burden of high tariff and ensure regular electricity supply to enhance its various academic activities.
Ogunbodede added that the University presently pays over N80m per month for electricity and additionally over N2m per month on Diesel to power generators.
He expressed hope that while the project was aimed at the University community, it may have no choice but to benefit the immediate community with the excess power, since the university could not exhaust the 8.03MW.
He said the university has made significant advances in research, resulting in nationally and globally significant success stories.
The VC stressed that the OAU has achieved rapid growth and development, particularly in the areas of Academic programmes, Research, Infrastructural Development and human resources development.
Ogunbodede said that the university has produced, among its staff, a Nobel Laureatte and six Nigerian National Merit Award Winners.
While commending the University Alumni and friends for their assistance in supporting various projects and programmes in the institution, he asked for more interventions and support in the face of inadequate and dwindling resources from the Federal Government.
Ogunmodede explained that OAU had recorded significant achievements in all its areas of competencies, particularly in learning, research and community service, leading to innovations and patents in the areas of Health, Drug, Agriculture and Technology.
Also Speaking, the new Chairman of the OAU Governing Council, Owelle Oscar Udoji peomised that during his tenure, OAU will break fresh grounds in research and contribution to National Development.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Gambia, Professor Faqir Anjum who siezed the occasion to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the OAU, thanked Nigeria for her contributions to the educational development of Gambia.
Obafemi Awolowo University was established on the 8th of June 1961 as University of Ife by the then government of Western Region of Nigeria.
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