Wild jubilation engulfed Araromi-Okeodo, a community in Ife-South Local Government Area of Osun State, following supply of electricity to the town for the first time, after 91 years in total darkness.
Residents of the agrarian community trooped out en mass in jubilation at the weekend, with many of them describing the development as ‘miracle of the century’.
The community has endured the absence of basic amenities such as electricity, pipe-borne water, and good roads since its establishment in 1932.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has pledged to collaborate with independent energy companies to bring light to other long-suffering communities.
Represented by the Commissioner for Energy, Adeyemo Ademola, the Governor expressed his gratitude to the residents and praised their resilience.
The transformative project, a 50KWP Hybrid Solar Mini-Grid Power Plant, was initiated in 2018 by Sholep Energy Limited, a company that financed the venture with significant support from the World Bank.
Governor Adeleke emphasised that this milestone marked the beginning of a new era for Araromi-Oke Odo and hinted at similar projects in eight different communities within Ife South.
He highlighted the government’s collaboration with foreign investors to extend the reach of independent energy solutions, illuminating communities across Osun State previously left in the dark.
The monarch of the town, Oba Abbas Akanbi, the Alara of Araromi-Okeodo, led his chiefs and subjects to the off-grid location of the 50-kilowatt energy firm responsible for the supply of power during its inauguration.
Oba Akanbi told newsmen that the he did not believe that power supply would be possible in his lifetime.
“We have heard several stories about power supply to the community, which never came true, and even when we were told of this solar power plant, we thought it was another fake promise.”
