Jubilation As Osun Community Gets Electricity After 91 Years In Darkness

There was a wild jubilation as a powerplant company in conjunction with World Bank and Federal Government of Nigeria generated 50 Kilowatts solar power electricity for Araromi Oke-Odo in Ife-South Local Government Area of Osun State after 91 years of being in darkness.

The residents of the community basked in the euphoria of the newly installed powerplant that started in 2019, completed in 2023.

Speaking at the commissioning of the project, the traditional monarch of the community, the Alara of Araromi Oke-Odo, Oba Abass Gbadamosi, he expressed gratitude to Federal government and World Bank for the intervention including the private company, Sholep Energy for undertaking the task of provision of electricity after 91 years.

He said: “This is a good history in Ife-South Local Government. This town has been existing since 1932. In fact, we have been making efforts on this light about 20 years. We didnt believe when Sholep energy came in 2019. By the grace of God, nothing will be stolen. We have worked on the security of the property and we have agreed with our people to purchase the light snd pay regularly. I’m very sure that development will start coming in. We are sure that investors will come now because we’ve been receiving calls.”

The Managing Director of Sholep Energy Limited, Engr Olalekan Shogbesan disclosed that, “this solar hybrid powerplant is 50KW. It was financed by us with support from World Bank and Rural Electrification Agency. We discovered that the village is viable. The project will power the whole community up to 700 houses. We are providing 24hour uninterrupted electricity for ten years. We have necessary equipment including 110kva generator newly installed . We are seeking for government cooperation.”

Similarly, the Osun State Commisioner for Energy, Ademola Adeyemo, disclosed that, “There are projects of this nature going on in eight different communities in Ife-South. We are extending the ssme gesture to other communities in other local government in Osun.”

He added that “State government is also envisaging 100kwt in different places that will belong to the state government. The state government is partnering with foreign investors to give energy to our state. There are many communities that are not under grid, so the state government is allowing independent energy to fill the gap to light up Osun state,” The Nation reports.