Access Bank supports Glow Initiative to install solar panels in schools

Glow Initiative for Economic Empowerment, through its Solar Up Nigeria (SUN) Initiative, has launched the Solar for Schools Community Project with funding support from Access Bank PLC.

The pilot project was concluded recently at Community Secondary School Ebenebe rural village, Anambra State, where the initiative has powered, especially, the school’s computer centre to enable kids access to computer, digital and ICT Education.

Previously, the school sold palm fruits from their compound to enable them afford to rent a generator so that only 45 SS3 students preparing for exams out of 500 can conduct computer practicals.

ICT, digital and internet education are powerful skills of the 21st century. Young people must thereby be equipped with the knowledge with which they could create own businesses and employ others.

On the day the team arrived the school premises, they saw about 15 female students gathered in a corner picking palm fruits from a bulk and stacking them in a bag instead of being in their classroom studying. But if the palmfruits are not picked out and sold, the school couldn’t rent an electricity generator to power school activities especially computer learning. With electricity in the school, the female students can be engaged more productively. With the installed solar system all 500 kids can conveniently have access to ICT and Computer Education including coding.

The project was completed on Saturday 20th February and the students were so excited that as soon as the light came into the computer centre from solar they all gathered around the computers excitedly.

In March 2020, Glow Initiative conducted a similar project at Makoko slum Community where it built a solar-powered centre and trained 20 female fish trades on how to build a solar dryer.

They could now save more money by avoiding fish damage. Through the solar-powered centre the women are able to sell electricity and make some money to invest in cleaner technology for their fish products.

The Solar for Schools Community Project is part of Glow Initiative’s effort to promote solar energy and power education for off-grid rural schools. It plans to reach more rural schools and therefore seeking access to technical support and more funding.