By Our Editor
After more than a decade of operating without public electricity, the Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management (KSITM) has been successfully connected to the national grid, marking a major milestone in the institution’s history.
The project was commissioned on Wednesday by Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, at a ceremony held within the institute’s premises.
The event attracted members of the Governing Council, senior government officials, staff, and students of the state-owned institution.
Speaking during the commissioning, Governor Radda said the grid connection ended over ten years of dependence on diesel-powered generators, which had constrained academic and administrative activities at the institution.
He explained that the project aligned with his administration’s Building a Future agenda, particularly its energy component aimed at strengthening public institutions through reliable power supply.
He said, “For more than ten years, this institute had no connection to the national grid and relied entirely on diesel to function.
“Today, that chapter has closed. Our institutions of technology must not be left behind as we work towards energy self-sufficiency and quality education.”
Earlier, the Special Adviser on Power and Energy, Dr. Hafiz Ahmed, disclosed that the project was completed at a cost of N270 million, far below initial proposals that ranged between N1.2 billion and N2 billion.
He attributed this to the Governor’s insistence on value for money and prudent management of public funds.
“With this connection, the entire institute—from administrative offices to classrooms and staff quarters—is now fully electrified,” he said.
In his remarks, the Rector of KSITM, Dr. Musa Ahmed Zayyad, described the development as historic, noting that the institution had never experienced stable electricity since its establishment nearly ten years ago.
According to him, the absence of grid power forced the institute to rely solely on diesel generators, resulting in liabilities of over N50 million.
“This is the first time in our history that KSITM is connected to the national grid,” the Rector said. “It brings relief to the institute and opens a new era for effective teaching, learning, and research.”
He praised Governor Radda’s consistent emphasis on education as the cornerstone of development, describing the intervention as unprecedented support for the sector.
The national grid connection is expected to significantly improve academic activities at Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management, reduce operational costs, and enhance the learning environment for students after a decade of operating in darkness.
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