The Federal Government has launched a fibre-to-home initiative in hostels at the University of Abuja, aiming to provide 24-hour internet supply to special institutions nationwide by the end of 2026.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, said at event in Abuja on Wednesday that the Federal Government was determined to provide the enabling environment for teaching and learning to thrive.
Alausa said that UniAbuja was a special institution, now enjoying 24-hour internet supply, adding that other special institutions would enjoy same before the end of 2026.
“President Bola Tinubu is energizing institutions. We have special institutions in the country today enjoying 24-hour electricity via the presidential renewable mini-grid project, the solarization project.”
Alausa highlighted that the University of Abuja was one of the beneficiaries, with a 3.3 megahertz mini-grid providing 24-hour electricity supply.
“The president is not stopping there. Before the end of next year, literally all the special institutions will have mini-grid. You will all enjoy 24-hour electricity supply.”
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, stated that the University of Abuja was the first of seven universities in the pilot scheme.
“By the end of July, we would have connected the seven universities. Galaxy Backbone has the infrastructure in place already; all we are doing is to take the fibre to hostels, ” he said.
Tijani emphasised the importance of meaningful connectivity for Nigerian university students.
“When we give you this access, not only are you going to be better in what you are learning, but you are actually going to create the future that our president is asking that we create as a nation, ” he added.
Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patricia Lar, lauded the project, saying it would benefit the school community.
“It is a special initiative that is going to create opportunities for students of all economic status to access data to be able to use for knowledge and education and to feed their creativity with ease, ” she said.
The President of the Medical Students Association, Faith David, expressed delight with the initiative.
She said, “We appreciate both ministers for this initiative. We are enjoying 24-hour power, and now our hostels have been connected to the internet to make learning easier for us.”
The Federal Government has already moved 24 tertiary institutions off-grid to solar power, with plans to achieve similar goals in other institutions ¹.
