Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was treated to an electric reception on Friday as he visited South Eastern state of Ebonyi, en-route the Enugu airport to commission a number of projects.
On arriving Enugu, a mammoth crowd cheered the Vice President as he made his way to a waiting helicopter that chauffeured him to the neighbouring Ebonyi state.
Prof. Osinbajo who was accompanied by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was visibly overwhelmed by the crowd and he responded by acknowledging their cheers with a wave of hand.
On arriving Ebonyi, the reception was a notch higher. The Vice President was received by state governor, Dave Umahi in Abakaliki, the state capital.
He then went on to commission a 2.8 megawatts solar hybrid power plant at the Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo, as part of the Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI).
The commissioned solar plant can power 287 street lights across 7.5 kilometers of roads. The Vice President then met with 20 female students who are the pioneer interns of the Federal Government’s Energizing Education Initiative EEI Stem internship programme.
Under the EEI, an initiative of the Rural Electrification Agency, 37 federal universities and seven teaching hospitals will be provided with off-grid power solutions.
Phase 1 consists of nine Federal Universities and one Teaching Hospital across the six geopolitical zones. At least, 127,000 students and 28,000 staff of universities are expected to benefit for the Phase 1 of the programme.
Also expected to enjoy off-grip power solutions are 4,700 staff of teaching hospitals. The solar energy will power 2,850 streetlights and train 180 female STEM students fully funded by the Federal Government.
Chronicling the Vice President’s visit, his spokesperson, Mr Laolu Akande wrote on his Twitter page, “VP Osinbajo in Enugu airport en-route Ebonyi to commission a 2.8MW Solar Hybrid power plant at Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo.
“It’s the first of what will happen in all federal universities and teaching hospitals in the Next Level agenda of the Buhari administration. Ebonyi and Enugu Govs with VP,” he tweeted.
Just as he was received, the Vice President departed Abakaliki Stadium amidst cheers from the enthusiastic crowd that had gathered to see him off.
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