Ogun Partners EU to Power 40 Rural Health Centres with Solar Energy
The Ogun State Government, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), has launched a groundbreaking initiative to provide solar energy to 40 rural health centres, aiming to enhance healthcare delivery and minimize reliance on unstable electricity supply.
Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the partnership on Thursday in Abeokuta during the official unveiling of the Nigeria Solar for Health Project, an EU-funded programme focused on sustainable energy solutions for healthcare.
Represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, the governor explained that the intervention would address a critical gap in rural healthcare delivery caused by constant power interruptions.
“In many rural and semi-urban communities, frequent power disruptions jeopardize medical care. Vaccines lose potency, emergency procedures are delayed, and diagnostic equipment often fails,” Abiodun noted. “These are not just inconveniences — they are life-and-death situations.”
He added that the solar initiative will supply clean, renewable, and reliable power to selected primary healthcare facilities, ensuring uninterrupted services and better health outcomes for patients in underserved areas.
“With this project, our health centres will not only have light — they will have life,” Abiodun said.
The governor revealed that over 40 primary healthcare centres will benefit from the first phase of the programme, which aims to deliver measurable results by reducing operational costs associated with diesel generators, enhancing maternal and child healthcare, cutting carbon emissions, and creating local jobs.
Abiodun also pledged collaboration with local governments, communities, and development partners to ensure effective maintenance, capacity building, and community ownership of the solar systems. He further noted that while the Solar for Health Project primarily targets healthcare facilities, nearby small businesses may also benefit from affordable energy access through regulated community connections.
The Programme Manager for Energy and Circular Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Godfrey Ogbemudia, said the initiative reaffirms the EU’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare and energy sectors. He described the project — part of the EU’s Global Gateway Programme — as a transformative effort aimed at improving rural healthcare and supporting productive economic activities from 2024 to 2028.
“This visionary project will deploy solar micro-grid solutions across public health facilities, ensuring sustainable and equitable healthcare service delivery,” Ogbemudia stated.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, praised the initiative as both timely and transformative.
“Power is not optional in healthcare — it is essential,” she said. “We cannot deliver babies, conduct surgeries, store vaccines, or sustain digital health systems without reliable electricity.”
Dr. Coker revealed that one in six primary health centres in the state would be solar-powered by the end of the year, noting that hospitals currently spend over ₦100 million monthly on energy — funds that could be redirected toward essential drugs, staff training, and outreach programs.
She emphasized that the Nigeria Solar for Health Project, supported by the EU, will significantly cut costs and improve healthcare efficiency statewide.
Nigeria continues to face severe power supply challenges, including grid instability and low generation capacity, with many communities receiving as little as four hours of electricity daily. The Ogun-EU partnership represents a major step toward sustainable energy and improved healthcare outcomes.
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