The First Lady of Ogun State, Her Excellency Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, has commended efforts at promoting renewable energy and inclusive education as she distributed 120 solar-powered reading lamps to students of Alaba Lawson Group of Schools, Abeokuta.
The distribution was carried out under the Clean Green Renewable Energy Initiative, organised by the Women in Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (WIRE-A) in partnership with the Smiling Simon Greenbuild Foundation (SSGF). The intervention forms part of SSGF’s flagship project, “Light Up Africa Through the Lens of African Rural Children and Children With Disabilities,” aimed at supporting education in communities with limited access to electricity through sustainable energy solutions.
Speaking at the event, the Ogun State Coordinator of WIRE-A, Mrs. Oluwakemi Abiodun Soyebi, described the programme as a significant step in advancing the state’s clean energy drive and improving learning outcomes for children.
She said the initiative symbolised collective action and commitment to building a better future for children and communities, noting that access to reliable lighting remains a major challenge for millions of African children.
Mrs. Soyebi commended the First Lady for her consistent support for education, women empowerment and environmental sustainability, adding that her presence highlighted the Ogun State Government’s commitment to sustainable development and child-centred programmes.
She also praised WIRE-A for championing gender inclusion and renewable energy advocacy across the country, while expressing appreciation to the Smiling Simon Greenbuild Foundation for driving the solar lamp distribution project.
According to her, the solar reading lamps represent more than lighting devices, as they provide opportunity, empowerment and hope, especially for children whose studies are often limited by poor electricity supply.
“The 120 solar reading lamps we are distributing today may appear simple, but to a child whose learning is constrained by darkness, a lamp becomes a classroom after sunset, an equaliser for children with disabilities, and a bridge between today’s challenges and tomorrow’s possibilities,” she said.
Mrs. Soyebi, who is also the founder of Shokesta Development Initiative, noted that beyond improving study conditions, the project would help instil early awareness of climate consciousness and environmental responsibility among children.
She further commended teachers and school administrators for their dedication to academic excellence, expressing confidence that the lamps would strengthen the school’s learning culture.
Addressing the students, she urged them to see the lamps as investments in their dreams, encouraging them to study harder, read more widely and pursue their ambitions with confidence.
She called for sustained collaboration among government, private organisations, communities and individuals to ensure renewable energy adoption becomes a lasting lifestyle rather than a one-off intervention.
The event climaxed with the symbolic unveiling and distribution of the solar lamps, as participants dressed in white and green to reflect purity of purpose and hope for a greener future.
The programme marks another milestone in Ogun State’s efforts to integrate education, sustainability and social inclusion through innovative renewable energy solutions.
