Transcorp Power, a subsidiary of the Transcorp Group business conglomerate, has expressed its desire to partner with Covenant University with a view to exploring solar energy generation and utilization in Nigeria.

The Group General Counsel, Transcorp Power, Mr. Christopher Ezeafulukwe, made this disclosure on Friday, February 10, 2017, when he led representatives of his organisation including that of its partner, ENGIE, on a courtesy visit to the Management of Covenant University.

Mr. Ezeafulukwe, who bemoaned what he described as the “critical situation” with power supply in Nigeria, said that changes in government policies have had a drastic effect on Transcorp Power’s investment and, in its efforts at finding a solution to the challenge, the company had partnered with power producer, ENGIE, on solar energy.

“We did preliminary work to identify stakeholders whose power we would need to address. One is the tertiary education sector, then Covenant University came up,” he said.

While acknowledging the giant strides being made by Covenant University in the areas of teaching, research and provision of infrastructure, Mr. Ezeafulukwe said that Transcorp Power was at Covenant University to understand the University’s energy needs, and areas where his company and the University can work together within the purview of what Transcorp Power was doing with ENGIE.

Shedding light on the operation of his organization, the Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE, Mr. Philipe Miguele, said that energy system was going through significant evolution and ENGIE was set to launch a significant investment in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the goal of helping customers in growing their energy generation capacity.

ENGIE, he pointed out, wants to partner with Covenant University on power generation and help to reduce the University’s cost as solar energy generation is cost effective.

In his comments, the Director, Physical Planning and Development, Covenant University, Arc. Gbenga Alalade, who expressed appreciation of what Transcorp Power and ENGIE were doing, narrated the evolution of power generation and utilization in CU since inception up to 2015 when the University migrated fully to its own power project, which currently stands at 5.67 megawatts. Power production, he added, would be increased to 10.8 megawatts by the end of 2017.

Arc. Alade revealed that the ultimate goal of Covenant University is renewable energy with focus on solar, wind and waste. It would be ideal, he enthused, for the University and Transcorp Power to work together.

Dr. Hope Orovwode, who represented the Head, Renewable Energy Cluster, CU, Professor Samuel Wara, at the meeting, said that the renewable energy cluster has been doing a lot on solar and the next step was to make it cost effective. The coming of Transcorp Power, he stressed, was timely, and Covenant University would be willing to learn from the company towards making energy accessible to Nigerians.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Professor AAA. Atayero, said he was not surprised that Transcorp Power had chosen to work with Covenant University, attributing the decision to divine providence.

He said that the University had gone through many phases in its desire to find a permanent solution to its power needs and currently uses the turbine but looking at shifting to sustainable energy.

The proposal by Transcorp Power, the Vice-Chancellor noted, means the University was in the right direction. However, he pointed out that the University would not be going into partnership as consumers as the institution desires solution that can give its Engineering students experience.

Professor Atayero described the initiative by Transcorp Power as a good beginning, adding that there would be further discussions between representatives of the University and the company.

Also in the Transcorp Power entourage were its Group Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Ibikunle Oriola and Projects Head, Mr. Funto Amire.

And other representatives of Covenant University at the meeting were the Registrar, Mrs. Mary Aboyade; Dean, College of Engineering, Professor Christian Bolu; Director, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Dr. David Omole; and Deputy Director, Media and Corporate Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Igban.

Energywatchngr