The Federal Government has announced plans to commence a one-megawatt solar electrification project at the newly established Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), Oyo State, marking a significant boost to the institution’s infrastructure development.
The project, being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), is part of a nationwide initiative to deliver sustainable energy solutions to 16 selected universities across the country.
This development was disclosed in a statement signed on Monday by the Personal Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor on Current Issues, Dr. Bolaji Olaomo.
FUNATO is listed as a major beneficiary in the South-West zone, alongside Adeyemi University of Education and the Federal University of Health Sciences, Oyan.
On Friday, February 6, 2026, the university’s management team, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jacob Babayemi, held a high-level consultative meeting with an REA delegation and the Onjo-in-Council, the traditional advisory body of the host community, to commence project execution processes.
Speaking during the meeting, the leader of the REA delegation and technical consultant, Mr. David Ogunsawe, said the current phase of the project centres on compliance and long-term sustainability.
“The assessment is a prerequisite for the solar electrification project, which has already received approval and is expected to commence within the next few months,” Ogunsawe said.
He added that the project would be executed through a public-private partnership model under the Federal Government’s Solar Power Naija and Energising Education Programme, aimed at leveraging private-sector expertise and sustainable financing.
Ogunsawe also noted that the project would require about 75 acres of land within the university’s permanent site to accommodate the solar array and supporting infrastructure.
In response, Prof. Babayemi assured the REA of the university’s readiness to meet the requirement.
“The university is prepared to allocate the required land within its permanent site immediately. This project is a critical step towards our vision of becoming a technology-driven centre of excellence,” he said.
To ensure effective collaboration between technical teams and the host community, the Vice-Chancellor appointed a community elder, Alhaji Isiaka Salawu, as the main liaison officer for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment team.
Elijah Adeyemi
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