For decades, many Nigerian university students studied under the harsh glow of candles and kerosene lanterns. In some hostels, torchlights doubled as reading lamps, while diesel fumes from noisy generators filled the air. For students and lecturers alike, irregular electricity was inconvenient and a barrier to learning, research, safety, and productivity.
However, things are beginning to change rapidly.
Many universities’ lives are being transformed by the Federal Government’s Energising Education Programme (EEP), which is now providing clean, round-the-clock electricity to campuses. Thanks to a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), eight more universities are set to benefit from uninterrupted power supply. These include the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Ibadan, among others.
Before now, epileptic power meant broken lab experiments, cancelled night classes, and long queues at charging points. Students often had to wake up at odd hours — between 2 am and 4 am — to catch the brief flicker of light for their reading. “It was a struggle,” says Ruth, a 300-level student at the University of Abuja. “Our fans didn’t work, the sockets were dead, and we couldn’t even keep our food from spoiling.”
With solar-powered mini-grids delivering 24-hour electricity to several campuses, a remarkable turn has occurred. Classrooms are livelier, lecture recordings are possible, and research projects can finally run smoothly. Computer labs and science facilities now operate confidently, and students spend more time learning instead of chasing fuel.
According to Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, Minister of Education, the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It is designed to boost learning environments, support innovation, and reduce institutional operational costs. Over 600,000 students and 50,000 staff have been impacted across the first three phases of the programme.
More than just an infrastructure upgrade, reliable electricity is now powering dreams from campus-based tech startups to late-night academic breakthroughs. As more universities come on Board, the promise of a brighter, smarter Nigeria no longer feels out of reach.