By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The African Development Bank has secured funding support of up to One Hundred and Ten Thousand United States Dollars (USD110,000) from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) for Ekiti State to facilitate development of the State Electricity Priority Plan (SEPP).
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof. Bolaji Aluko who made this known in Ado Ekiti stated that the approved funding followed the State request for grant funding to support the establishment of the Power Sector Reform Desk in his Ministry for mainstreaming decentralized renewable energy solutions.
Prof. Aluko explained that the funding approval secured through the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Programme (AESTAP) window would sponsor three delegates from the State to participate in a hybrid training course on Power Sector regulation at the Africa School of Regulation (ASR) in addition to consultancy services.
According to him, the training course which comprises 10 weeks of online sessions and one week of in-person training will commence this month.
Stressing that the implementation of the programme would require the dedication of the project team from the State, Aluko assured that selection of participants would be based strictly on merit to ensure the desired result.
He reiterated the commitment of the State Government to the rapid development of the State and welfare of the people adding that no community can optimally develop without first developing its electricity infrastructure from all resources.
Aluko assured that no stone would be left unturned in the Ministry to ensure steady supply of electricity, potable water, responsive fire service and efficient telecommunication system in the state.