By Moses Pam
Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau has unveiled a 100 kilowatt Mini-Grid Solar Power project in Namu community of Quaan-Pan Local Government Area of the state.
The project is part of a global rural energy access initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
It is implemented by the Federal Government’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The governor, while unveiling the project, described it as the beginning of a new journey toward transforming rural economies and empowering local communities.
He said that it was also a major milestone in his administration’s rural electrification and clean energy agenda.
The governor emphasized that access to clean and reliable energy remained central to his administration’s vision of stimulating agro-allied industries, small-scale enterprises, and rural livelihoods.
“Today, Qua’an Pan that once sat in darkness has seen the light.
“Great things begin small, and this project is a symbol of our determination to walk the talk in providing sustainable infrastructure that unlocks rural wealth,” he said.
Mutfwang said that the solar mini-grid represented the first of three key interventions his administration was pursuing for the people of Qua’an Pan.
He listed the interventions as rural electrification, improved road connectivity, and access to clean water.
The Governor said that the construction work on the Jibam–Namu Road was already underway, with several kilometers nearing completion.
He lauded the Federal Government, REA, UNDP, and GEF for their collaboration.
Mutfwang appealed to the people of Namu, particularly the youth, to safeguard the facility and use the opportunity to engage in productive ventures that would drive local development.
“Energy is the backbone of every economy.
“What we are witnessing today is not merely the commissioning of a facility.
“It is the birth of a new dream for our people, a dream of light, hope, and shared prosperity,” he declared.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the REA, Dr Abba Aliyu, explained that the Namu project aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to expand rural energy access through renewable power solutions.
He announced that the Federal Government had approved a 750 million dollar renewable energy programme, which is the largest publicly funded clean energy initiative in the world.
Aliyu explained that it was designed to deliver electricity to over 17.5 million Nigerians through more than 1,350 mini-grids nationwide.
According to him, Plateau State will benefit from 42 mini-grid projects, 10 of which were sited in Qua’an Pan LGA.
“Plateau is fast emerging as a clean energy hub because of the enabling environment that the current administration has created through landmark reforms and the establishment of the Plateau State Energy Corporation,” the REA DG said.
Also speaking, Dr Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative, lauded the state government for its inclusive development approach and prioritization of sustainable energy.
She reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting clean energy initiatives as drivers of economic transformation, climate resilience, and peacebuilding in rural communities.
Qua’an Pan LG Chairman, Christopher Audu, expressed deep appreciation to the governor, the Federal Government, and development partners for “bringing light to Namu.”
He described the project as “a leap from poverty to productivity,” and pledged the community’s readiness to maintain the facility.
The project developers and energy experts highlighted Namu’s vast agro-economic potential and pledged continued collaboration to expand the grid’s capacity from 100 kilowatts to 2 megawatts in the near future.
Highlight of the commissioning ceremony was the symbolic switching-on of power and inspection of agro-processing units now connected to the solar power source.
Residents of the community who expressed their happiness over the development said it would usher in a new dawn of productivity, innovation, and economic renewal for them.
