By ThankGod Blessing
Jalingo –
Amidst the persistent power outage affecting Jalingo, the capital of Taraba state, and surrounding areas for over two weeks, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) has taken a proactive step by graduating 30 solar installation technicians.
These technicians, equipped with the necessary skills, are poised to offer alternative power solutions using solar panels.
The blackout, triggered by the vandalism of four power transmission line towers along the Jos-Gombe 330kV line, has resulted in widespread power disruptions in several states across the North East region, including Jalingo.
The newly trained technicians have undergone intensive training, acquiring expertise in setting up and powering households off the grid using solar panels and inverters.
Moreover, the Commission has provided them with starter kits and financial support to establish their businesses.
The initiative has also garnered significant interest from residents of the state, who attended a public presentation by the technicians on the benefits of solar energy in addressing household electricity needs.
A resident of the state who spoke with Gee TV Africa expressed his readiness to explore the off-grid option, emphasizing its reliability as a backup plan during prolonged outages.
In his remarks at the graduation ceremony, Bashir Nguroje, the Taraba State Coordinator of NEDC, lauded the technicians as problem solvers poised to make a positive impact on their community and the state at large.
He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to empowering youths in the North East region towards self-reliance, highlighting the provision of starter kits and stipends to facilitate the technicians’ entrepreneurial journey.
