To ascertain the state of readiness for the takeoff of the solar energy factory to be constructed in Akwa Ibom, the State Government has taken delivery of High-Tech Street Lights donated by Hangzhou MC Prudent Company Limited.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sir Etekamba Umoren, in the company of the State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Nse Essien; Chairman Foreign Direct Investment, Elder Gabriel Ukpe; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Stella Etuakapan, alongside other to government functionaries inspected and took delivery of the sample project of the 10 poles High-Tech Solar Street Lights along Oron Road by Udo Udoma Avenue, measuring over 250 meters
Receiving the document from the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr, Unyime Effiong, Sir Umoren expressed gratitude to the firm for bringing such high technological innovation to the state, assuring that the State Government will give necessary support to ensure the success of the project.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Nse Essien, said the High-Tech Street Lights were samples of other numerous projects the company intends to introduce in the state when fully operational.
Dr Essien, who disclosed that the company has acquired a factory site along Itam Industrial Layout, expressed optimism that in the next six months, it would have completed the factory fully fitted with the required equipment.
According to him, other lighting solutions to be produced by the company include solar panels; batteries; LEDs; Low Energy Lightings and other solar energy solutions.
He noted that in no distant time, all houses in the state would be solar powered thereby bringing an end to the hardship faced by residents of the state due to the epileptic nature of public power supply.
The Science and Technology Commissioner, who lauded the company’s ingenuity in locating the batteries on the poles, said it would be difficult for it to be vandalized, adding that the industrialization drive of the Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration was yielding positive results and invited other investors to the state as “Akwa Ibom is investor friendly.”
Dr Essien stated that the factory, when operational, would be used to service other African Countries aside the supply of components to big project sites of the company located in Ghana and Zambia, saying “with the construction of the Solar Energy Factory, youths of the state would be gainfully employed.”
Speaking, the Chairman of the company, Mr. Bofeng Ying, expressed gratitude to the State Government for the opportunity given the company to contribute to the industrialization of the state, pledging not to betray the confidence reposed in the company by the people and State Government.
In his words: “The Hangzhou MC Prudent Company Limited (Nigeria) together with Hangzhou MC Lighting Company (China) is happy to handover our fully 10 units, new, clean, bright energy efficient solar street lights as sample or pilot project to the Akwa Ibom State Government. This is to testify for future big projects we are producing, and we intend to change all lamps into solar powered LED lights.”
Also speaking, the CEO of the company, Mr. Unyime Effiong, stated that beyond undertaking maintenance of the equipment for about three years before handing over to the state government, the company would also train youths of the state within Nigeria and in China to ensure proper maintenance of the equipment.
Mr. Effiong maintained that that the project, when fully operational, would take Akwa Ibom youths off the street as a good number of them would be employed which in turn would boost the state’s economy.