Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has inaugurated the 2.5MW independent power project (IPP) of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), describing the electricity project as “revolutionary.”
At a multi-layer event at ABUAD, on Monday, dignitaries including Governor Fayemi, representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN); the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo and traditional rulers variously laid the foundation for the construction of nine factories at the ABUAD Industrial Park, Ado Ekiti.
Governor Fayemi, while inaugurating the power station, which is the first phase of a 5MW project, noted that it was heartwarming that a few years after the project was conceived and he was told about it by Chief Afe Babalola, it had come to fruition and had become a reality.
Fayemi said the IPP was revolutionary and that it told a lot about the vision, industry and focus of the founder of ABUAD, Chief Afe Babalola, pointing out that it would impact power supply Ekiti State positively.
Fayemi said: “Imagine what this power project would do to this state. Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) gives 8 megawatts of electricity to the entire state, that is why some communities have been without public power supply for many years.”
He lamented that the poor power supply to the state was frustrating and was also a big setback for the quest for the development of the state.
He said: “I have to appreciate and acknowledge Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, for being a visionary man. It is a great delight and privilege to be here and I fully identify with this laudable project. At an occasion, I was described as the governor of the state where ABUAD is located. Aare Babalola told me about this project about five years ago, and from our own efforts at getting a 5 megawatts IPP, I know the reasons why it has taken this long, as, after two years, we are only able to get to the point of agreement.
“This is a great leap forward for the state because with the 5 megawatts by ABUAD and our own 5 megawatts, we will be having more than the 8 megawatts that the state is supplied daily by Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC.”
Chairman of the occasion, Oba Kiladejo, in his remarks at the inauguration of the IPP noted that Chief Babalola was tireless in blazing trails, noting that he would be remembered by many remarkable things, chief among which would be as the founder of a thriving Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).
Oba Kiladejo said he had admired Chief Babalola since the days when he lived and practised medicine in Ado Ekiti and remarked that his achievements in education were worthy of emulation.
Fayemi and Oba Kiladejo also were among the dignitaries who laid the foundation stone for nine outfits at the industrial park namely, a herbal drug production factory, intravenous fluid manufacturing plant, rice processing factory, yam (poundo) factory, cassava processing factory, pepper drying and processing factory, bottle recycling factory, FESTO Facts (engineering) Centre and a MDF/HDF wood processing factory.
Chief Babalola said the ceremony “marks the fulfilment of my dream to establish an independent power project which will provide the much-needed electricity for the industries in ABUAD Industrial Park.”
The builders of the project, Cabota Engineering, Mr Charles Obisike, noted that that the ABUAD IPP would accelerate the already rapid development of the University.
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