The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and his Education counterpart, Tahir Mamman, are set to address the pressing issue of soaring electricity tariffs in educational institutions at the forthcoming annual summit of the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN) scheduled to hold on October 23.
As conflicts between institutions and power distribution companies continue to escalate, the ministers will spearhead discussions, to explore viable solutions to the electricity crisis affecting Nigeria’s education sector.
The summit, the sixth of its kind, will be held at Professor Tolu Odugbemi Hall, University of Lagos, and is expected to attract key stakeholders from the education, power, and health sectors to address these challenges and propose actionable strategies for lasting reform.
A statement issued and signed by the Secretary, Planning Committee and Chairperson of the Publicity Subcommittee; Christiana Akande and Elizabeth Osayande respectively disclosed that the Minister of Power will deliver the keynote address on the theme: ‘High Tariffs: Resolving the Electricity Crisis in Nigeria’s Education Institutions’ while the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Architect Sonny Echono will present a paper titled: ‘Refocusing Support for Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions.’
The vice chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, will host the summit, while the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, and his Health counterpart, Professor Mohammad Pate will serve as the event’s chair and co-chair, respectively.
Panelists at the summit include: Chairman/CEO of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Engineer Sanusi Garba; Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Chris Maiyaki; Chairman of the Forum of Chief Managing Directors of Nigerian Teaching Hospitals, Professor Emmem Bassey; and the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Professor Paulinus Chijioke Ekwelle.
Other notable participants include Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities, Professor Kabiru Adeyemo; Managing Director/CEO of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Chief Sunday Oduntan; and National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Otunba Yomi Otubela.
“We have also assembled critical stakeholders to dissect the presentation by the TETFund ES and the list includes the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida; President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr Akintunde Sawyerr; the National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, and the National Presidents of both the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Comrades Shammah Kpanja and Smart Olugbeko, respectively,” the statement reads in part.
Speaking on the significance of the summit, EWAN Chairman, Mojeed Alabi, emphasised the urgent need to address electricity debts in educational institutions across the country.
He noted that universities like Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and others are struggling with huge unpaid electricity bills, leading to frequent disconnections.
He referenced Babcock University’s recent N300million electricity bill and ABU’s N2billion debt, stressing that these issues have reached critical levels requiring immediate attention.
“It is no longer news that universities across the country, from the University of Benin to Ahmadu Bello University, the University of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University, and even the University of Lagos, are grappling with unresolved electricity bills and frequent power disconnections by the privatised electricity distribution companies. This crisis has escalated to an alarming level, demanding urgent intervention.
“Recently, Babcock University, Nigeria’s pioneer private university, revealed a staggering N300 million electricity bill for May alone, while at one point, Ahmadu Bello University’s debt exceeded N2billion. The situation is even more dire in our teaching hospitals. The consequences of this are devastating for the country, and we believe it is high time we focused our energy on solving these critical issues, rather than engaging in token gestures like distributing rice and millet. Only by ensuring quality and affordable education and healthcare can we truly tackle the complex challenges facing Nigeria,” said Alabi.
He further pointed out that Architect Echono’s paper is particularly timely, as global trends in education demands a shift from building large infrastructures to focusing on technology-driven solutions that enhance competitiveness.
The summit will also feature discussions on how to align Nigeria’s tertiary education system with these global advancements, with participation from the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida among others.
EWAN, therefore, invites all stakeholders, including policymakers, education professionals/organisations, and student leaders among others, to participate in the summit and contribute to the discourse aimed at resolving these pressing challenges in Nigeria’s education system.
