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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has promised to partner with independent energy companies to light up communities that have been in darkness for a long time in the state.
He stated this at the weekend during the commissioning of a 50kwp hybrid solar power plant built by Sholep Energy Ltd, at Araromi Oke-odo, Ife South Local Government.
Represented by the Commissioner for Energy, Adeyemo Ademola, Adeleke congratulated the people of the community for their endurance since 1932 when they settled in the town.
He said, “This is the first of its kind in this state. We appreciate the Sholep company and we are anticipating more of it. There are projects of this nature going on in eight different communities in Ife-South. We are extending the same gesture to other communities in other local governments in Osun.
“The state government is partnering with foreign investors to give energy to our state. Many communities are not under the grid, so the state government is allowing independent energy to fill the gap to light up Osun state,” Adeleke said.
The MD/CEO of Sholep Energy Ltd, Engr. Olalekan Shogbesan expressed readiness to invest in the state if there is adequate cooperation from the government.
He explained that the 50kwp hybrid solar mini-grid powerplant was financed by Sholep with support from the World Bank and Rural Electrification Agency.
“We discovered that the village is viable. The project will power the whole community up to 700 houses. With what we have on the ground, we are still going to have leftovers.
“We came in October 2018. They don’t have access to electricity and clean water. We started by providing them 20,000 litre of water per day and we have been providing 24-hour uninterrupted electricity for ten years. We have the necessary equipment including a 110kva generator newly installed.
“We are seeking government cooperation. There are challenges we are facing. There is no good road and this is a multimillion-naira project,” Shogbesan said.
The Alara of Araromi Oke-Odo, Oba Abass Gbadamosi, expressed joy that the community has been seeing light since 1932 when his fathers settled in the area.
“All my people are also happy. This is a good history in Ife-South Local Government. We appreciate Sholep’s energy for bringing light to us. This town has been existing since 1932. We have been making efforts in this light for about 20 years. We didn’t believe it when Sholep Energy came in 2019. I thank God that I’m alive today and for protecting our contractor.
“By the grace of God, nothing will be missed here. We have worked on the security of the property and we have agreed with our people to purchase the light and pay regularly.
“I’m the Alara II and I thank God that this happened in my time. I’m very sure that development will start coming in. We are sure that investors will come now because we’ve been receiving calls,” the monarch added.
