By Mustapha ‌‍⁠⁠‍⁠⁠‍‍‌‍‌‌⁠‍‌Yauri

Prof. Adamu Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, says the revived Kainji Hydropower Model will strengthen practical engineering education, research and innovation.

The vice-chancellor disclosed this during the inauguration of the upgraded facility donated by Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd. in Zaria on Friday.

Ahmed described the intervention by Mainstream Energy Solutions to the university as a significant milestone in university-industry collaboration and engineering education.

He said the model, which had remained non-functional for decades, would restore its historic contribution to engineering training and expose students to practical aspects of hydropower operations and management systems.

According to him, the facility will support training across civil, water resources, mechanical, electrical and computer engineering, while creating valuable research opportunities in power generation, distribution and consumption monitoring systems.

He added that the model could also support innovative research into detecting electricity theft, improving students’ problem-solving abilities and developing practical solutions to Nigeria’s energy challenges through applied engineering research.

The vice-chancellor commended Mainstream Energy for restoring the facility through its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, and urged stronger partnerships through formal agreements covering research, innovation and specialised engineering training needs.

Mr Sirajo Abdullahi, Managing Director of Mainstream Energy, restated the commitment of the company to further support the institution.

The managing drector added that the company would offer between five and 10 engineering students annual practical training at Kainji Hydropower Plant for two to three weeks.

He said the students would gain firsthand experience in power generation, equipment maintenance and installation of critical components, while the company would provide transportation, accommodation and feeding throughout their training.

Abdullahi said Mainstream would also explore opportunities for students to participate in installing new generating units, adding that its operations at Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro exceeded 2,000 megawatts of electricity.

He said the company had restored more than six generating units at Kainji, while all six units at Jebba were operational, with further expansion work planned at Kainji before year-end.

In his remarks, Prof. Jibrin Mohammed-Kaura, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, said the initiative began in 2018 when Dr A.A. Abdurrasheed first proposed reviving the university’s abandoned hydropower model.

Kaura said the project received encouragement from Ahmed, then Director of University Advancement, and support from former vice-chancellor Prof. Ibrahim Garba, before Mainstream helped turn the academic vision into reality.

He said the faculty would develop the facility into a centre for practical teaching, postgraduate research, multidisciplinary collaboration and industry-driven innovation in hydropower and renewable energy technologies for future engineers.

He said ABU would ensure effective utilisation and maintenance of the facility, while prioritising the commercialisation of research findings and translating laboratory innovations into practical solutions for industry and society. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Lawal