COURTESY VISIT BY THE SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT (SSAP’s) ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AGENCY
A team of Senior Special Assistants to the President (SSAP) on Community Engagement covering the Six (6) geopolitical zones of the country paid a courtesy visit to the Rural Electrification Agency on Tuesday, 25th June, 2024.
The aim of the visit is to cement a strong collaborative relationship towards driving effective impact on community engagement and citizen involvement in project implementation across the 6 geopolitical zones of the Nigeria.
During the visit, the head of the delegation Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai (SSA Community Engagement, North West) stated the need to partner with REA in order to bridge communication gaps and strengthen collaboration and report on the impact of the Agency in communities. He also reiterated the need to be notified of REA’s activities in order to provide necessary support.
The SSA on Community Engagement covering South-East, Hon. Chioma Nweze, opined that government is continuous, and praised the Agency for doing a good job in projects implementation. She stated that they are aware of REA’s tremendous work and encouraged REA to do more.
The SSA on Community Engagement covering North Central, Hon. Abiodun Essiet, expressed that the team wants to partner with REA in order to build trust and create accountability.
The SSA on Community Engagement covering South West, Hon. Moremi Ojudu, voiced how resourceful her team is. She said, they are doers and not talkers. She also appreciated REA for its sterling performance in carrying out projects.
The SSA on Community Engagement covering North East, Hon. Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba, stated that renewable energy capsulate this new government. He appreciated REA’s projects for complementing the national grid.
The SSA on Community Engagement covering South-South, Hon. Gift John Bull, shared life experiences of people living in her community. She stated that the community people did not believe that a project will be implemented in their community by REA. She further stated how that project has changed their lives for good. She encouraged REA to deepen community work so community members can enjoy the dividends of government.
The Ag. MD/CEO of Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Abubakar Aliyu while giving his remarks delved into the Agency’s commitment of providing electricity to the 85 million people living without electricity. He further stated that REA goes beyond providing electricity but improving on what has been done. REA has provided 25 million Nigerians with solar home systems and REA is ready to up its game. Furthermore, the Ag. MD/CEO of the REA briefed the Senior Special Assistants to the President (SSAP) on Community Engagement on the programmes and Initiatives implemented by the Agency with a focus on the new DARES programme while highlighting the targets, impact and achievements of the Agency under these programmes. He continued on REA’s tremendous work in higher institutions in the six geopolitical zones. He expressed how REA has helped in curbing issues of paying too much electricity bills in higher institutions. The MD highlighted Energizing Education Programme projects implemented at the University of Port Harcourt, University of Uyo, University of Akure amongst others as well as other programmes and areas the REA has its foot prints.
The female Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme under the EEP is another area discussed by the MD where he stated REA’s commitment to continue building world class training centre where female STEM students are to enable them acquire hands-on practical experience in designing and constructing power plant systems, streetlights and other electrical installations.
The MD expressed that REA is conscious of providing electricity and the Agency has sponsors to get funding to provide electricity. He stated that the REA is about breaking grounds for new programmes and projects as well as continued collaborations with donor partners to electrify communities. The MD assured the delegation that REA will work with them and urged the delegation to help educate communities to protect and sustain mini grids projects in their regions.
The MD gave the assurance that REA will not just build mini grids and go. The new Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOS) model will be implemented towards better projects implementation and sustainability and in no time, the RESCOS will be more popular than DISCOS.
The Executive Director Corporate Services (Ayoade Gboyega) while speaking during the visit stated that it is imperative to help amplify REA’s projects. He urged the delegation to help build feedback mechanisms because they are closer to the community members. This in turn will help in better alignment.
The Deputy Director, Promotion Information & Outreach, Christian Gekpe who represented the Director of Promotions, Information and Outreach also highlighted REA’s involvement in community engagement and the Agency’s sustainability platform which is the Rural Electricity User Corporative Society (REUCS) which helps in the sustaining REA projects. The platform helps to bring together contractors/developers and communities towards solving electricity matters and ensuring projects sustainability.
Some resolutions at the courtesy visit include:
- Train 100,000 STEM Students across the 6 geopolitical zones will be trained in a world class standard facility. The students will be trained in batches and the students should be identified by the respective Offices of the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement.
- Bylaws should be shared. In order to help create actions of members.
- Need for technical assistance for the community. This is to provide them will technical knowhow to be able to fix small wire and fuse problems that may arise.
- The delegation requested for a Desk Officer from REA to attend their television show.
- MD/CEO gave his full assurance to finance the training of the first set of STEM students.