Cardinal Turkson Performs Ground Breaking Ceremony for Veritas’ Independent Power Source.

Veritas University recently marked a monumental milestone in its institutional history with a groundbreaking ceremony for a state-of-the-art solar power plant, an initiative designed to entirely transition the campus away from reliance on the unstable public power supply.

The Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences Cardinal Peter Turkson who performed the ground breaking ceremony during the momentous occasion underscored the profound intersection of faith, environmental stewardship and academic advancement.

This ambitious renewable energy project represents a transformative leap forward for the university community. Apart from saving scarce resources of the university, the Project when completed will stop the emission of about 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide which represents the next emission of the substance from the use of generators by Veritas University.

For years, Veritas University—like many organizations in Nigeria—has grappled with the severe economic and operational setbacks caused by erratic public electricity supply. By harnessing abundant solar energy, Veritas University is poised to secure a reliable, uninterrupted, and clean electricity supply that will permanently eliminate power outages across lecture halls, laboratories, student hostels, and administrative offices.

Cardinal Turkson emphasized the moral and spiritual imperative of embracing clean energy at the event, noting that God’s first creating was when He decreed that let there be light.. Drawing from Catholic social teaching and ecological responsibility, he noted that investing in solar power is a tangible act of caring for creation and future generations. His message resonated deeply with the university’s core values, aligning institutional growth with the global call for sustainable development and environmental preservation as articulated in contemporary encyclicals like Laudato Si’.

According to him, the Solar Project “is quite a good project. Through the work of our hands and through technology, we cooperate with the Creator to improve the earth as a dwelling place for the family by our efforts to bring the work of creation to perfection. We contribute to the advancement of the society to carry out Christ's mandate.

“With technology and the work of human hands, we bring to conclusion the work of creation not because there is deficiency but to serve the specific needs of the society. And that is why the Pope have called businesses which transform the work of nature to convenience of humanity Noble Vocations.

“Noble Vocations are works of human hands that serve the purpose of converting what God has created to serve specific needs of humanity. That is what we are about to do here. We want to command labour and ask God to bless all what we are to do here”

The significance of this solar infrastructure extends far beyond the campus boundaries, offering profound benefits to the surrounding local community. A stable and independent energy matrix means Veritas University can expand its community outreach programs, enhance evening adult education, and provide reliable digital resources for neighboring youths. Furthermore, the construction and subsequent maintenance of the solar plant create valuable technical training and employment opportunities for local artisans and university engineering students alike.

Academically, the solar installation serves as a living laboratory for Veritas University’s growing science and technology programs. Students and faculty members will no longer need to rely solely on theoretical models; instead, they will have direct access to a utility-scale renewable energy facility right on their campus. This practical integration of green technology into the curriculum is expected to bolster research in photovoltaic efficiency, energy storage systems, and sustainable engineering.

Financially, transitioning away from the public power grid and expensive diesel generators will drastically reduce the university’s recurrent operational overhead. The substantial savings generated from lower utility bills can be judiciously redirected toward critical academic developments, faculty research grants, library enhancements, and scholarship funds for underprivileged students. This fiscal resilience ensures that Veritas University remains strong and competitive in an increasingly demanding higher education landscape.

According to the Vice Chancellor, “the idea is to lessen the emission of carbon dioxide into the air. Currently, Veritas University transmits about 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide daily into the atmosphere through our generators. We are happy that Veritas university is becoming ECO-Compliant.

“We want to thank the Cardinal in a very special way for coming and we want to thank his grace the Arch Bishop and our chancellor, Bishop Kaigama for gracing this important ceremony. The idea is to provide Veritas with 22hours of steady light so that students can do their work and sleep well in the hostels, so that our academics can do their research. We know the cost of diesel now and this will help save a lot. Ultimately, the parents too will benefit” he said

As the physical construction of the solar plant gets underway, the mood across Veritas University is one of immense optimism and renewed purpose. The groundbreaking ceremony led by Cardinal Turkson will be remembered as a defining moment when the institution boldly stepped toward a self-reliant, eco-friendly future. By pioneering sustainable campus power, Veritas University not only illuminates its own path toward academic excellence but also shines as a beacon of hope and practical innovation for the entire region.