Connect with us

General News

FG Mulls Solar Systems for Unserved Electricity Communities

Published

on

Kindly share this post

As a result of the constant collapse of the national grid which has left Nigeria in perpetual darkness, the new thinking of the government is to deploy solar cabin systems to unserved and underserved communities.

This was demonstrated in the Kaida Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) is set to deploy a 22KVA capacity system.

This intervention is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility,

Kaida is a small community with about 250 homes which are completely shut out from electricity supply from the grid.

Executive Director, Generation, Kassim Abdullahi, explained that   NDPHC is working with Sun Africa on the development of renewable energy projects both on grid and off grid and the collaboration will unlock about 1GW of electricity to Nigerians.

Advertisement

The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, (MOA), in Abuja, is a prerequisite for obtaining a permit from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for the provision of power less than 100Kw to any community.

In his remarks,  Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, the Managing Director,  NDPHC,  disclosed that the 27.6KW Solar Cabin System was donated to NDPHC by Sun Africa, a US Company.

Also speaking, Engineer  Valerie Agberagba, General Manager, Renewable Energy at NDPHC, noted that the solar cabin system would provide electricity to 50 homes with an average of four occupants when deployed.

While explaining that the project is expandable, she however, warned that such expansion will depend on how well the  Kaida Community “takes care of the project”.

Agberagba said the community’s actions and inactions  will determine the next step for the community.

Advertisement

In his opinion, the executive in charge of Solar Cabin Development at Sun Africa,  Mr Peter Mauriv, stated: “We are aware that this project would not service every household in Kaida. It is simply going to illustrate the impact it makes and to show the importance of expanding the project in Kaida and to other parts of the country.

“The big advantage of renewable energy, specifically solar power,  is that it is robust and reliable.”he said

In addition to providing electricity, this project has the potential to create job,  provide  water, and opportunities to hold social events for the community dwellers.

In a statement, Emmanuel Ojor, head, Communication and  Public Relations of NDPHC,  said that a  22KVA generator will also be provided for the community as a backup for the Solar Cabin System.

 

Advertisement

Kindly share this post

Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

General News

Dangote Plans to Donate One-Third of Wealth to Charity as Legacy

Published

on

Aliko Dangote
Kindly share this post

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, plans to dedicate one-third of his wealth to charity as part of his succession plan, Halima Dangote, his daughter, has revealed.

Dangote Plans to Donate One-Third of Wealth to Charity as Legacy

Aliko Dangote

Halima, a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday, saying the billionaire had secured the support of his family to commit 33 per cent of his estate to philanthropy.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote’s net worth is estimated at $35.1 billion, meaning one-third of his current wealth would be worth about $11.7 billion if his fortune remains at that level.

Halima explained that her father views philanthropy as a key part of his legacy and has incorporated it into the family’s long-term succession plans.

She said Dangote had structured his estate to ensure that charitable giving continues across generations, particularly in areas such as healthcare and education.

“He sort of put all the structure in place whereby we focus a lot on health and education. He actually donated 25 per cent to the foundation. If you look at it, it is what we call in Sharia Code in Islam; it means he has donated 33 per cent of his whole inheritance to his foundation,” she said.

Advertisement

Halima added that Dangote believes giving back is central to the success of his businesses and the family’s values.

She said the billionaire asked her, her two sisters, and his mother to sign the agreement allowing 33 per cent of his inheritance to be dedicated to humanitarian causes.

The planned donation builds on Dangote’s longstanding philanthropic activities through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which was established in 1994.

According to Halima, the foundation received an endowment of $1.25 billion about a decade ago and has since received an additional $700 million in funding.

She said about 70 per cent of the foundation’s spending goes to programmes in Nigeria, while 20 per cent supports projects across Africa, with the remaining funds directed to initiatives in other parts of the world.

Advertisement

The foundation’s interventions focus on healthcare, education, nutrition, and humanitarian support, including partnerships that contributed to the eradication of wild poliovirus in Africa.

Dangote’s planned charitable commitment adds to increasing global attention on billionaire philanthropy.

Although the proposed 33 per cent allocation is below the 50 per cent commitment associated with the Giving Pledge, it would rank among the largest philanthropic commitments announced by an African billionaire.

Earlier this year, Dangote was named among the world’s most influential philanthropists by TIME magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list, recognising the impact of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which reportedly spends more than ₦50 billion annually on programmes across Africa.

 

Advertisement

Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

General News

Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission Seeks Collaboration on Power Plants

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), has said that there are plans for Nigeria to begin to generate electricity from nuclear sources.

Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission Seeks Collaboration on Power Plants

Mr Anthony Godwin Ekedegwa, chief executive, NAEC stated this when he recently visited Mr Umar Yusuf Girei, acting managing director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA),in Abuja.

He was at NIWA’s office to solicit the support of NIWA in achieving the numerous advantages of using nuclear energy technology in the country.

According to him, the partnership of critical stakeholders in Nigeria will position the country well in developing and maintaining its nuclear power plant.

The NAEC chief said Nigeria intends to begin the generation of electricity from nuclear sources instead of fossil-based power plants and hydro-based power plants, stressing that for Nigeria to develop, there is a need for the country to diversify its energy needs.

Advertisement

In his remarks, Mr Girei assured NAEC of his agency’s readiness to collaborate on the advancement of a nuclear power plant in Nigeria.

He promised the full support of NAEC for the success of a nuclear power plant in the country, saying that as the organisation saddled with the responsibility of regulating and developing Nigeria Inland Waterways, his entity is strategically positioned to play a critical role in the federal government’s quest for sustainable energy through the new technology.

Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

General News

Pan-Africanism: Why Integration is Non-Negotiable for Africa’s Future

Published

on

Kindly share this post

In a powerful call for continental solidarity, Ralph Mupita, Group CEO of MTN, has asserted that the future of the African continent depends on the dismantling of xenophobic barriers.

Pan-Africanism: Why Integration is Non-Negotiable for Africa’s Future

Speaking at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) Winter Seminar, Mupita framed migration as a fundamental characteristic of the African identity, urging South Africa and other nations to embrace integration over exclusion.

He emphasised that the survival of African enterprises depends on a borderless approach to trade and talent. “The digital economy we’re fast moving to knows no borders.” Mupita declared, noting that the mindset of exclusion is an outdated relic that hinders the continent’s ability to compete globally.

He argued that for Africa to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the psychological barriers of xenophobia must be eradicated.

Providing a stark financial justification for this stance, Mupita highlighted MTN’s own operational reality as a blueprint for Pan-African success. “We earn about 80 to 82% of our earnings from outside South Africa,” he revealed, illustrating that the prosperity of South African-born entities is inextricably linked to their success across the rest of the continent. This figure underscores the interdependence of African economies and the danger of isolationist policies.

Advertisement

Mupita’s stance was strong advocating for unity: “The future of Africa will not be determined by the borders that separate us, but by the economic opportunities that connect us. Governments must set predictable policy and regulations.

Businesses will follow and allocate resources and capital. Together, we can build a continent where opportunity is more evenly shared and prosperity is more widely created.”

Analysts observing the seminar noted that Mupita’s remarks come at a critical juncture where economic volatility often fuels nationalist rhetoric. By tying the fight against xenophobia to the balance sheet, MTN is positioning Pan-Africanism beyond the moral imperative to its function as a business necessity. The CEO stressed that “Migration is part of who we are,” suggesting that the movement of people is the primary engine for the movement of capital and innovation.

Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending