People in Araromi-Okeodo, which is in the Ife-South Local Government Area of Osun State, were jumping for joy when the town got power for the first time in 91 years.
Over the weekend, a lot of people from the rural town came out to celebrate the news. Many of them called it the “miracle of the century.”
Oba Abbas Akanbi, the Alara of Araromi-Okeodo, and the town’s monarch led his chiefs and people to the off-grid site of the 50-kilowatt sholep energy company that did the cool thing to open it.
People in the news said that Oba Akanbi didn’t think there would be a power source in his lifetime.
“We’ve heard many stories about giving the community power that never come true. When we heard about this solar power plant, we thought it was just another lie, but today I feel like the happiest person in the world.”
“As a way to show our appreciation, we will as a community make sure the plant lives on and protect it properly.” He said, “We are sure that the community will see even more growth and development.”
According to Engr. Olalekan Adeleke, Managing Director of Sholep Energy Limited, the Federal Government’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the World Bank, and the company all contributed to the multimillion-naira project. He also said that the off-grid power plant would power more than 700 homes.
He also said that the mini-grid plant would give the town free, uninterrupted power for 24 hours a day and water every day.
Adeyemi Festus, the Energy Commissioner for Osun State, said that the state is also working with private investors to build more power plants in order to attract investment. He also said that Governor Ademola Adeleke would make sure that the power plant was safe.