No fewer than 1,800 businesses and households in Oke-Oyi Community, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, will now enjoy steady electricity following the commissioning of a 581 kWp Interconnected Solar Mini-Grid with a 1.4 MW battery storage system by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.
The extended battery capacity, officials said, enables the mini-grid to power the community throughout the night, reinforcing the Federal Government’s drive toward universal energy access.
The project was delivered under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS) and supported by the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), with backing from the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany through GIZ, and other development partners including UNICEF.
Speaking at the commissioning, Tegbe described IMAS as a model for how international partnership should work, noting that it leverages public funding to attract private developers, establishes clear market rules and builds long-term commercial viability rather than dependence on perpetual subsidy.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) said Oke-Oyi demonstrates how interconnected mini-grids can combine distributed renewable energy with existing distribution networks to improve supply, attract private investment and support economic activity.
He said the Agency is focused on scaling such models through stronger financing, regulatory and institutional frameworks, while ensuring commercial viability, proper maintenance and community ownership.
He acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Power, the Kwara State Government and development partners, as well as Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited, for their roles in delivering the project.
Representing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, commended the visible impact of the Federal Government’s power sector reforms across the state.
“Since this Minister of Power came on board, we have been enjoying stable electricity, not only in the cities, but also in the urban areas,” he said, adding that his own roots in a rural constituency underscored the significance of the project in curbing rural-urban migration.
“As the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly and being from a rural area, we understand the importance of electricity in taming rural-urban migration. When you came on board, you quickly keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President to deliver dividends to the people. I can categorically say that you are performing,” he said.
Tegbe urged the people of Oke-Oyi to guard the newly commissioned assets against vandalism and criminal interference, describing the mini-grid as an investment built for their benefit and for the prosperity of generations to come.
He officially declared the project commissioned on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, congratulating the community and all stakeholders who contributed to its delivery.
“As we energize this community, we are also energizing businesses, creating opportunities, empowering young people, improving livelihoods, and building a more resilient future for Nigeria,” the Minister said, commending the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for pursuing reforms aimed at building a stronger, more reliable and more sustainable electricity sector.
The Oke-Oyi mini-grid adds to a growing portfolio of rural and off-grid electrification projects delivered under the Renewed Hope Agenda, as the government continues to expand access, strengthen energy security and advance Nigeria’s transition toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
