Quality education unattainable without stable electricity – Stakeholders

Higher education stakeholders said strong power system will aid quality education and development.

This was the submission of speakers at the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria annual summit held in the University of Lagos.

Titled, ‘High Tariffs: Resolving Electricity Crisis in Nigeria’s Education Institutions,’ the summit was attended by stakeholders, policymakers, players in the energy sector as well as academics to discuss pressing issues, including sustainable energy solutions and support for the education sector.

EWAN in a communique made available to The PUNCH on Monday, said that the speakers at the summit included the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola; the Executive Secretary to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Mr Sonny Echono; the President of the National Association of Private School, Mr Yomi Otubela; the Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Prof. James Momoh; the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; the President, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Dr Smart Olugbeko.
It read, “Emphasis on the need for a vibrant energy and power system in Nigeria as it is impossible for a society to achieve development without quality education, which needs a strong power system to thrive.

“The plans of the Nigerian government to address the electricity crisis in Nigeria, particularly on how it affects the education sector, and by extension the development of the country.

“The government’s plans to address electricity challenges, with special emphasis on the education sector. “
The communique explained that the first panel discussion focused on how the current electricity crisis continued to disrupt the daily operations of Nigeria’s educational institutions.

The conversation revealed how crippling electricity tariffs and erratic power supply were taking a heavy toll on schools and universities.

“It is nearly impossible for federal universities to operate efficiently. The implications are far-reaching as both students and educators struggle under these unfavourable conditions. The inconsistent and exorbitant cost of power supply inevitably limits the potential of young people in the educational sector

“The panelists shared how the rising electricity tariffs coupled with the current inflation rates and the consequently devaluation of the naira, all come together to lower the standards of teaching and learning in Nigerian public universities.

“They discussed how the situation worsened when the government removed its 67 per cent subsidy on electricity supply. These institutions are grossly underfunded and many are going into huge debts to keep the schools open, with electricity bills being a major culprit in terms of high expenditure.
“The panelists came to the conclusion that if universities were to survive, they will have to not only be strict with their energy management, they will also need the support of the government to categorise educational institutions on more affordable bands.”

In his presentation, Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Architect Sonny Echono, stressed the importance of integrating Information and Communication Technology across federal universities to ensure that every graduate was ICT literate.
 He spoke about the establishment of ICT centers on campuses, where students from diverse backgrounds would receive training and potential job opportunities.

Echono also highlighted the need for collaboration between academia and industry, encouraging lecturers to spend sabbaticals in industries to foster innovation and address the gap between academic knowledge and industry needs.

Regarding the energy sector, he pointed out that over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s power relied on non-renewable sources, with less than five per cent from renewables.

He stressed the importance of diversifying energy sources and reducing the 40-60 per cent energy losses due to system inefficiencies.

Echono suggested that opening the energy market to competition could improve efficiency, similar to the changes seen in the telecommunications sector.

EWAN Chairman Mr Mojeed Alabi, expressed his candid views on Nigeria’s energy crisis and its detrimental effects on education at all levels.

 He reiterated that the key to resolving the crisis was in providing quality, affordable education, which was unattainable without stable electricity.
While acknowledging the importance of alternative energy sources like solar power, Alabi pointed out their high costs, making them unaffordable for most Nigerians and insufficient to meet the energy needs of institutions.

 He argued that while solar energy could contribute, it cannot replace the need for optimised and accessible energy distribution, as no country could thrive without a reliable power supply.

Alabi lamented the significant financial barrier to implementing solar solutions, questioning how many households can realistically afford the setup costs, which often reach millions of naira.