By Juliet Umeh
When the lights go out in Lagos State University, LASU, classrooms fall silent, research is cut short, and students are forced to scramble for alternatives, sometimes studying under streetlights or relying on noisy generators. But that reality may soon change.
The Federal Government has approved the installation of solar mini-grids across LASU’s campuses, a move that promises to provide steady power and open new frontiers for digital learning, research, and innovation.
At the commissioning of the 550-seater Olatunji Bello Auditorium at LASU’s Epe Campus, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, announced that a 5MW solar mini-grid will be deployed at Epe, while the main campus will get an 11MW mini-grid through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund,TETFund.
“This is more than just power for classrooms. By next year, every tertiary institution in Nigeria will run on mini-grids, making them energy-sufficient and enabling students to unlock their potential in technology, research, and innovation,” Dr. Alausa said.
For many LASU students, the announcement sparks hope. “We lose so much time when there is no light,” said Temitope Akinyemi, a 400-level engineering student.
“If power becomes stable, I can finally complete my coding projects without worrying about my laptop dying in the middle of the night.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, underscored the significance, calling reliable energy “the backbone of a 21st-century education system.” For him, renewable energy will not only keep the lights on but also fuel digital classrooms, science labs, and cultural exchange.
Adding to the excitement, donor of the auditorium, Hon. Tunji Bello, announced interventions aimed at boosting technology adoption: free campus-wide WiFi provided by VDT Communications and private funding for the first year of maintenance.
For students like Maryam Olalekan, a second-year mass communication student, free internet could be a game changer. “Data is expensive. Sometimes I can’t even download my lecture slides. If WiFi is really free on campus, it means more opportunities to learn and do research without worrying about cost,” she said.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, said the combined investments in renewable energy and digital connectivity would not only support teaching and learning but also strengthen LASU’s role as a hub for innovation and community engagement.
Tech experts say the LASU initiative signals how Nigerian universities can become test beds for renewable energy research while preparing students for a digital economy.
“Reliable power and internet access are the twin pillars of innovation,” said Dr. Kola Adebayo, a Lagos-based ICT policy analyst.
“If LASU can sustain this, it could become a model for universities across West Africa.”
For now, the promise of solar power and WiFi at LASU is more than just an infrastructure upgrade, it is a glimpse into a future where students can dream bigger, create more, and compete globally without being limited by poor electricity or costly internet.
As Temitope, the engineering student, put it: “Maybe one day, the next big Nigerian tech company will be born right here at LASU, powered by the sun and connected to the world.”
