Nasarawa beats 22 other countries to attract AUDA-NEPAD 100kw renewable energy project to FMC Keffi

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Nasarawa beats 22 other countries to attract AUDA-NEPAD 100kw renewable energy project to FMC Keffi

By Aluta News
July 27, 2022

Nigeria has beaten 22 other countries that competed for the African Union Development Agency, AUDA-NEPAD integrated approach to development programme, with Nasarawa State selected for the AUDA-NEPAD’s 100kw renewable energy project to be deployed at the Federal Medical Center Keffi.

Benjamin Akobundu and Mamadou Diakhite, both members of a technical team from the AUDA-NEPAD Continental Office from Johannesburg, South Africa, disclosed this when the team paid a courtesy call at the Government House, on Wednesday.

According to Benjamin Akobundu, who delivered the addresses of both the NEPAD continental office in Johannesburg, South Africa and NEPAD Nigeria office, said Nasarawa State was able to capture the project ahead of other countries, almost 23 countries that have also competed for this project.

Specifically, Akobundu, who spoke on behalf of the CEO NEPAD in Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, said Nasarawa State was chosen for this project because of the administration’s believes support and commitment to the realisation of sustainable development goals and AU’s Agenda 2063.

He explained that, the AUDA-NEPAD integrated approach to development through the Federal Medical Center Keffi, was borne out of the agency’s response to drive the energy/security agenda of the continent, health care delivery, foster digital healthcare delivery and build resilient community against COVID-19.

Akobundu added that the project is also aimed at championing the realisation of SDG Goals 7, which aims at achieving universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy and Agenda 23, Goal 1, 7 and 10, which target at quick access of electricity generation fifty percent, distribution seventy percent and ensuring that Africans have access to electricity by 2023.

“This project tends to deploy renewable energy and climate smart technology to increase productivity rapidly and sustainably to Federal Medical Centre Keffi, through installing of 100kw solar powered technology, drilling of bore hole, with overhead reservoir for water supply and its reticulation for FMC Keffi and the community for domestic and livestock consumption,” Akobundu said.

He however, commended the Special Adviser to the Governor on NGO and Development Partners, Hajiya Munirat Abdullahi, for her commitment and doggedness in ensuring that all the critical elements that were required to speed up the project information, were supplied and Nasarawa State was able to capture the project ahead of other countries, almost 23 countries that have also competed for this project.

In his response, Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, described the deployment as being key, especially to Keffi.

Engineer Sule was elated because the project is coming at a time the people of Keffi were lamenting increase in charges for services being rendered by the facility, mostly due to skyrocketing cost of diesel.

According to the Governor, the project means a lot to the state since, 100kw is more than enough for Keffi and especially with the solar powered bore holes that being put together.

Engineer Sule was emphatic that, the project will go down to reduce challenges in the area of water supply in Keffi.

He added that, the state government has asked for the General Manager of the Nasarawa Electricity Power Agency (NaEPA), Engr Abubakar Danjuma Ango, to join the team, with a view to understudy the project, towards replicating it in other parts of the state.

The Governor used the opportunity to appreciate both the continental office and Nigeria office of the AUDA-NEPAD, his Special Adviser, Hajiya Munirat Abdullahi for her good job, as well as all the various ministries participating in the project.

“For you to select our state, among all the various contestants who are in need of this, it means a lot to us,” he said.

The AUDA-NEPAD was established in 2010 to integrate the then New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) into African Union (AU) structures and processes. In 2019, NEPAD became the African Union Development Agency.

The agency advocates for AUDA-NEPAD, and facilitates and coordinates the development of AUDA-NEPAD continent-wide programs and projects. It also mobilizes resources, as well as engages the global community, regional economic communities and member states to implement programs and projects.

These address issues including the economic and social exclusion of youth, industrialization, infrastructure and trade, as well as natural resources governance and food security.