Abuja: Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving energy access as an economic catalyst for growth and development of the nation. Ododo gave the commendation in Abuja on Tuesday, during a roundtable on ‘Rural Electrification and Strategy Implementation’ organised by Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with the Kogi State Government. He said that the president has shown a clear path to unlocking the economic greatness of the country’s human assets that were vulnerable and being endangered.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ododo expressed gratitude to the Rural Electrification Agency and all stakeholders for their steadfast dedication to this vital course. He emphasized that Kogi is strategically positioned to play a significant role in this initiative, given its central location and socio-economic potential. Ododo assured that the state is ready to provide infrastructural support and expedite administrative processes to ensure the success of electrification projects.
He highlighted the broader impact of electrifying rural communities, noting that it goes beyond just providing light. It is about igniting hope, fostering innovation, and empowering people to build a self-reliant future. Ododo appealed to REA and other partners to prioritize Kogi in their electrification programs, emphasizing the importance of universal energy access in fostering innovation, creating jobs, and driving economic growth.
The Managing Director of the REA, Abba Aliyu, announced that SOSAI Renewable Energy Service Company had secured a $300,000 grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to electrify 17 health centers in Kogi. Aliyu noted that the project has the potential to expand to an additional 40 primary health centres and urged the Kogi State Government to provide necessary counterpart funding.
Aliyu stated that Habiba Ali, the founder and CEO of SOSAI Renewable Energy Service Company, will oversee the implementation of the grant. Kogi State Commissioner for Energy, Mohammed Abdulmutalib, also called on stakeholders to seize the opportunity to power the state’s future with reliable and sustainable energy solutions. He emphasized the transformative impact of green energy initiatives on the state’s largely agrarian communities, highlighting the potential to vitalize the economy and set a benchmark for impactful development across the state and the country.