By Ayomide Otitoju
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has commissioned a 581kWp interconnected solar mini-grid with a 1.4MW battery energy storage system in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The project is expected to provide reliable electricity to rural households and businesses, with the battery storage system enabling the mini-grid to operate through the night.
The project was delivered under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS) with support from the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), the European Union, the German government through GIZ and other development partners, including UNICEF.
Speaking at the commissioning, Tegbe described IMAS as a model for public-private collaboration in the power sector, saying it uses public funding to attract private investment while establishing clear market rules and promoting commercial sustainability.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) said the Oke-Oyi project demonstrated how interconnected mini-grids could combine renewable energy with existing distribution networks to improve electricity supply and support economic activity.
He said the agency would continue to scale up the model through stronger financing, regulatory and institutional frameworks while ensuring commercial viability, maintenance and community ownership.
He acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Power, Kwara State Government, development partners, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Nayo Tropical Technologies Limited to the project.
Representing Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, commended the Federal Government’s power sector initiatives in the state.
He said improved electricity supply was important to reducing rural-urban migration, particularly in communities where access to power remained critical to economic development.
“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,” he said.
Tegbe urged residents of Oke-Oyi to protect the infrastructure against vandalism and other criminal activities, describing the project as an investment intended to benefit the community and future generations.
“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.
The Oke-Oyi mini-grid is expected to provide electricity to about 1,800 households and businesses, adding to the Federal Government’s portfolio of rural and off-grid electrification projects.
