Funmi Ogundare
At the recent 2024 annual summit of the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN) held at the University of Lagos, stakeholders from the education, energy, communication, and financial sectors gathered to advocate for affordable and stable power supply as essential for delivering impactful education to those eager for knowledge. The summit, themed “High Tariffs: Resolving Electricity Crisis in Nigeria’s Education Institutions,” was a platform for addressing the pressing energy challenges facing the nation’s educational landscape.
Professor Folashade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, addressed the attendees, emphasizing that the summit’s theme highlights an existential threat to education. She described the energy crisis as a national issue that affects not only education but other critical sectors as well. “Education is fundamental and should be shielded from the struggles of unstable and expensive power supply, which hampers the effective delivery of knowledge to Nigerians,” she stated. Professor Ogunsola also pointed out that many educational institutions are burdened by debts due to mounting power tariffs.
Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, expressed hope that the summit would inspire innovative solutions to the ongoing energy supply problems. He noted the federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to utilizing a public-private partnership model to tackle these issues, particularly in the educational system.
Sunday Oduntan, spokesperson for the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED), highlighted the paradox faced by Nigerians; while there is a strong desire for reliable power, hesitation to pay existing tariffs is hindering growth in the power sector. “Our goal is to provide a minimum of 20 hours of electricity, but financial constraints have been a significant roadblock,” he explained.
Aisha Bello, representing the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), reiterated the commission’s responsibilities in regulating and fixing tariffs. Meanwhile, Ibraheem Abdul, Rector of Yaba College of Technology, criticized the ongoing power crisis, stating that institutions should have the autonomy to select their distribution partners.
Mojeed Alabi, Chairman of EWAN, concluded the summit by articulating the need for practical solutions to the energy crisis within the education sector. He stressed that the government must demonstrate the political will to invest in affordable power supply across all educational levels, from basic to tertiary education, calling for research-based solutions to address the energy challenges plaguing institutions nationwide.
