Power company donates 240kw of solar energy, car park to UNN

A leading power company in West Africa, Azura-Edo, on Thursday, donated 240 kilowatt of solar energy and 80 capacity car park to the Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN.

The Managing Director of the company, Edu Okeke, during the groundbreaking ceremony at UNN, explained that the donation was part of the company’s effort to support Federal Government’s initiative to achieve net-zero 60%, which is a global effort aimed at curbing temperature rise.

Okeke, who was represented by the Azura Head of Corporate Affairs, Murtala Bello, also explained that the gesture was also part of the company’s effort to support Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

He further said that donation was also part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility to the society, adding that the projects which would cost Azura Power about N604 million would be delivered in May, 2024.

“Every year, we deploy about a million dollars for Corporate Social Responsibility across Nigeria and this is one of such projects,” Bello explained.

While making his remarks, the Vice-chancellor of UNN, Prof. Charles Igwe,  commended Azura Power for the projects and said that when  completed, it would cut the cost the University spends on the conventional power supply.

“The 240kw Solar electrification and car park construction project is laudable and very important to the university because power is one of the major challenges we are having here.

“When the project is completed it will help in reducing the huge amount of money the university pays monthly to EEDC for electricity consumption and it will bring clean and reliable energy to the Faculty  of Engineering as well as contribute to reducing the university’s carbon footprint.

“I commend Mr. Okeke, the Managing Director of Azura Power for using his organisation to give back to UNN his Alma Mater,” he said.

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The VC who was represented  by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor,  Administration, Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, also commended the numerous intervention projects in the Faculty of Engineering by the Alumni associations and urged the Faculty to continue to reach out to all the graduates  for more intervention project.

Earlier in a remark,  the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UNN, Prof. Emenike Ejiogu,  explained that Mr. Okeke, the donor of the projects  announced it in 2022 during the Faculty’s biannual Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture, HMML.

“During the planning and designing of the project, the idea of using the solar power panels to construct a car park came in and the Azura company accepted it instead of climbing to building roofs to mount the solar panels.

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“Today, we are here to the glory of God to witness the groundbreaking ceremony of the 240kw Solar plant and car park construction project for four car park ports of 10 cars each with a total capacity of 80 cars sponsored by Azura Power West Africa Limited.

“When completed, all the departments in the Faculty of Engineering will enjoy a steady power supply and this will no doubt enhance administrative and research works as well as teaching and learning in the entire Faculty, and help to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and mitigate climate change,” he said.

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The Dean, who is also the Director, Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development , ACE-SPED, UNN,  further said that the HMML series has been an avenue through which the Faculty is using to project the activities of the Faculty to the alumni and the general public as well as appeal and attract donor projects.

He thanked the MD of Azura Power and assured him that the Faculty would give the construction workers all the necessary cooperation to ensure the smooth execution of the project.

Other officials of Azura Power present during the occasion are: Mr. Sunny Nwachukwu, Project Manager, Mr. Onoro Dafe, ESG Specialist, and David Ekugum, Social Impact Manager, while Heads of Departments, staff under the Faculty of Engineering, as well as some members of the University Management and principal officers were also present during the occasion.