AfDB Facilitates USD110,000 Funding Support For Ekiti Electricity Priority Plan

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Electricity Priority Plan, (SEPP) has received a boost from the African Development Bank, (AfDB) which secured funding support of up to USD110,000 from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA).

The fund is meant to facilitate development of the State Electricity Priority Plan (SEPP).

Already some parts of the state capital, including government offices are already enjoying electricity power supply from the State Independent Power Project

The State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof. Bolaji Aluko who disclosed this in Ado Ekiti stated that the approved assistance followed the State request for grant funding to support the establishment of the Power Sector Reform Desk in his Ministry for mainstreaming decentralized renewable energy solutions.

Prof. Aluko explained that the funding approval secured through the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Programme (AESTAP) window would sponsor three delegates from the State to participate in a hybrid training course on Power Sector regulation at the Africa School of Regulation (ASR) in addition to consultancy services.

According to him, the training course which comprises 10 weeks of online sessions and one week of in-person training will commence this month.

Stressing that the implementation of the programme would require the dedication of the project team from the State, Aluko assured that selection of participants would be based strictly on merit to ensure the desired result.

The commissioner reiterated the commitment of the State Government to the rapid development of the State and welfare of the people, adding that no community could optimally develop without first developing its electricity infrastructure from all resources.

Aluko assured that no stone would be left unturned in the Ministry to ensure steady supply of electricity, potable water, responsive fire service and efficient telecommunication system in the State.