By Favour Percy-Idubor, Benin
The NEPL/Seplat Joint Venture (JV) has marked significant milestones with the official unveiling of a solar-powered mini-grid project, graduation of its pioneer Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (YEP) participants and the commissioning of a borehole project in Ologbo N’ugu, Edo State.
Themed, “Building Capacity for a Greener Grassroots Economy,” the three-pronged initiative is centered on providing access to power, stable water supply and potential employment and placement pathway for the youths.
The solar-powered mini-grid, with a capacity of 18.45 KWp 30 KWh battery and 20KVa inverter, is designed to provide electricity to about 138 households and businesses in the community, while the YEP is a comprehensive empowerment programme aimed at equipping young individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to design, install, maintain solar installations and other energy solutions within their communities.
The occasion highlighted the JV’s ongoing drive to championing inclusive growth through clean energy solutions, youth-led enterprise and access to portable water.
The JV partners have remained strategic in applying the three projects to impact positively on the vital areas of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the mini-grid aligns with the SDGs 7, 8 and 9 – affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; and industry, innovation and infrastructure, respectively, the borehole addresses SDG 3 – good health and wellbeing, and the YEP training focuses on SDGs 1 and 4 – no poverty and quality education, respectively.
Welcoming dignitaries to the event, the Director of External Affairs & Social Performance, Seplat Energy Plc, Chioma Afe commended the host community for creating a conducive environment for the projects to see the slight of the day, noting that it is one thing for the partners to desire to do good, but another for the host community to provide the enabling environment.
“Today, the NNPC Exploration and Production and Seplat Energy JV celebrates not one, but three monumental achievements; the commissioning of a mini-grid project, commissioning of a borehole, and the first graduation of our young renewable energy entrepreneurs. This mini-grid is not just an infrastructure, it is a beacon of sustainable energy access, for Ologbo N’ugu, lightening up our homes and offices,” she said.
She described the graduates as not just students but “torch bearers for a new era in this community and indeed the wider Edo and Delta State; the NNPC/Seplat JV Ambassadors, equipped to transform the entire energy landscape.”
The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, represented by the Director General, Edo State Electrification Agency, Hon Saturday Egbadon, commended the Seplat JV for the landmark mini-grid and graduation of its YEP students, and expressed delight that the efforts are in sync with the electrification policy of his administration.
“I am greatly thrilled by this development because it fits perfectly into our developmental agenda – “Operation Light Up Edo State”. It is straightforward in our journey to bring sustainable power to every part of this state, especially the rural and underserved communities,” he said.
He urged the graduating students to strive to make the most of what he described as a perfect example of how the private sector can play a vital role in supporting sustainable development at the grassroot.
On his part, the Special Adviser to Governor Okpebholo on Oil and Gas matters, Barrister Felix Osemwengie Isere expressed deep joy that the initiative would help bring to reality the strategy of inclusive development of the state government.
In his contribution, leader of the representatives of the NNPC Exploration & Production Limited (NEPL), Mr. Owunari Tomikeimieye, commended the community and the participating youths who made the dream a reality. He noted that the most strategic way to impact on and partner with communities was to offer them sustainable energy, youth empowerment and portable water.
A joyful Ero of Umughunu, Chief Gius Eheneden, who spoke for the Ologbo N’ugu autonomous community expressed appreciation to the Seplat JV.
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