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From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, says his administration decided to adopt and launch the Solar-for-Health Project to reduce the heavy cost of powering healthcare facilities throughout the state.
The governor equally disclosed that the project was adopted to make clean, reliable, renewable and sustainable solar power available to the state-owned health facilities.
Governor Abiodun stated this at the official launch of the Nigeria Solar for Health Project (NISHP) and inauguration of the Steering and Technical Working Committee, at the weekend, in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
Represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo, the governor noted that the project will ensure uninterrupted service delivery, particularly in rural communities, lower carbon emissions, support environmental sustainability, and generate employment for the youth through the training of solar technicians and maintenance teams.
He added that the project will address a critical gap by providing clean, renewable, and sustainable solar power to health facilities across our state.
“It will ensure uninterrupted service delivery, particularly in rural communities where the need is most critical. With this intervention, our health centres will not only have light, they will have life”, Abiodun submitted.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, who lamented that state and general hospitals spend over N100m monthly on diesel, observed that these resources could be redirected towards essential drugs, capacity building, and community outreach.
Coker maintained that reliable energy remains the backbone of modern healthcare delivery, stressing that “no surgery could be performed, no vaccine safely stored and no delivery conducted efficiently without steady electricity supply”.
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The Commissioner said that though Ogun State had already provided solar power to one out of every six Primary Health Centres (PHCs), the NISHP, supported by the European Union, would provide solar power to forty additional PHCs across the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Water Resources, Damilola Otunbanjo, described the project as another remarkable achievement for Ogun State.
Otunbanjo disclosed that aside from health facilities, nearby Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSEs) would also access clean energy for their operations.
“This ensures that the power illuminating hospitals also supports small businesses,” the Special Adviser added.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Babajide Onakoya, urged all members of the Steering and Technical Working Committee to approach the assignment with innovation, accountability, and a deep sense of purpose.
Earlier In his welcome address, the Project Manager, Green Economy, European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Mr. Godfrey Ogbemudia, commended the Ogun State Government for its proactive interest in the initiative right from inception, disclosing that Ogun was among the five states, alongside Plateau, Enugu, Abia, and Akwa Ibom, that demonstrated genuine commitment to hosting the Solar for Health Project.
According to him, the initiative will provide solar micro-grid solutions to public health facilities, improving service delivery and climate resilience in underserved communities.
Meanwhile, the Steering Committee has the Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo as Chairman, his Budget and Planning counterpart, Olaolu Olabimtan as Vice Chairman while Damilola Otubanjo will serve as the Secretary. The Commissioners for Health, Housing and Commerce and Industry, Tomi Coker, Jamiu Akande Omoniyi and Adebola Sofela, and Babajide Onakoya will serve as members.
Members of the Technical Working Committee include Olaolu Olabimtan; Damilola Otubanjo; Olubola Aikuola; Kayode Oladeinde; Muritala Adekunle; Dr Elijah Ogunsola; Akinyemi Otenuga; Tade Adeniyi; Kehinde Akintomide, among others.
