FG Trains 100 Undergraduates On Solar Systems Installation

Federal Government has announced that it will facilitate the training of 100 students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike on Solar Photovoltaic Systems (SPS) Installation and Maintenance. The students were drawn from the Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

They were trained under the Energizing Education Programme of the Federal Government overseen by the Ministry of Power through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Speaking during the presentation of certificates to the participants on Monday, the Training Officer for Asteven Renewable Energy Academy, Isaac Negedu, described the training as a necessary and welcome development.

Negedu said that REA contracted the academy to carry out the training.

“The training is part of the contracts between the Federal Government and the company that built the solar power plant in the university,” he said.

He said the trainees were exposed to three fundamental areas, including theories, practicals and site visitations.

He said the training was designed to empower the students to become self-reliant, employable and employers of labour after graduation.

Negedu further said the training, which was done in batches, had adequately prepared the students for the future.

According to him, renewable, green and clean energy through solar systems installation is the business and profession of the future.

“The business is sustainable and lucrative,” he said.

In a speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Elom, said the world is challenged by global warming, occasioned by climate change.

He said that through renewable energy, the dangers of climate change could be mitigated.

Elom, who was represented at the event by the Director, Physical Planning, Works and Services, thanked the Federal Government for choosing the university to benefit from the programme.

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A 500-level student of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Chukwu, who participated in the training, described energy auditing as the most important task in SPS installation.

Chukwu said that energy auditing helps to know the number of appliances and hours the systems were used in a house.

“With the knowledge, you will be able to determine the type of panel, inverter and batteries to be used in solar systems installation.

“I thank the university management for availing us of the opportunity. I promise to use the knowledge acquired to improve society,” she said.