'Shape' Village Celebrates One Year Anniversary of Uninterrupted Power Supply

 

The first pilot project of "Operation light up rural Nigeria", which was commissioned on 13th January, 2013, by President Goodluck Jonathan himself, in a village called Shape, near Abuja, has witnessed one year of uninterrupted power supply.

Disclosing this in an exclusive interview with Diamond Report, this Thursday, the Lead Consultant and the designer of the off mini grid Solar Energy Electric Technology of the Federal Ministry of Power, Engr Ifeanyi Damian Eze, said the prosecution of this project was in fulfillment of Mr. President's promise of at least some lighting points, at the door step of ever Nigerian, within or outside the Federal grid.

The project, Engr Eze said, is thus clearly, a follow-up to Mr. President's determination in making Nigeria one of the most productive and industrial nations in Africa through constant, uninterrupted electricity supply. He added that, this was part of Mr. President's commitment to the total utilization of untapped energies for service to the Nigerian populace, through renewable energy, biomass technology, thermo-dynamics, wind energy, etc.

The Engr continued "This dream has begun to manifest, with the celebration of one year uninterrupted electricity energy supply by the Shape villagers; an occasion that was celebrated in grand style this Monday, the 2nd of February, 2015."

Apparently in a mood which portrayed fulfillment as the Lead Consultant, Engr Eze said "this development astonishes many people who knew Shape village before this rural electricity project, because it has changed the face of the village, with the villages quickly taking advantage of the numerous economic gains that go with availability of electricity"

These advantages he enumerated as follows: communication is massively enhanced, as cellphones are easily charged and used by Individuals to reach one another; urban migration is reduced, as people now stay back in their houses to watch various television programs- especially football, instead of trooping out to the township for such activities; hair-dressing and saloon business have begun to boom, power is available to easily pump water at borehole sites; the solar searchlights are available to enhance and standardize security; lights are available everywhere, thus encouraging night studies by students; including adults; thus enhancing education; access to the internet is booming as laptops are regularly charged for browsing and people in the healthcare sector comfortably use electricity to store vaccines in their refrigerators.

Engr Eze further remarked that the Shape electricity project and its success story came to be real due to the unreserved commitment of the Federal Ministry of Power, ably led by Prof Nebo, adding that, this was coming as a trail-blazer for more and more successful projects through out the country, in line with the dream of President Jonathan.

Diamond Report correspondent who was there live, reported that the ceremony attracted many dignitaries and stakeholders, including, the Hon. Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, his permanent secretary, Amb. (Dr) ThankGod Igali, the Senate Committee Chairman on Power, Senator Philip Aduda, among others. Several traditional dances organized by the happy villagers, were also reported to have graced the occasion, and added colour to it.

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