
Persistent power outages in Nigeria significantly impact neonatal intensive care units NICUs, where premature and vulnerable infants rely on electricity for survival. At the Maternal and Child Centre on Ogombo Road in Eti-Osa, Lagos, power failures have led to tragic incidents, including the death of a newborn and a fragile infant suffering severe hypothermia due to equipment failure. Chief Nursing Officer Modupe Nasiru highlighted that without constant power for incubators, babies risk fatal hypothermia, and critical machines for breathing assistance and jaundice treatment become inoperable. The hospital faced prolonged outages, sometimes lasting days, due to suspected damage to underground cables, forcing heavy reliance on a 400 kVA generator. This led to immense financial strain due to high diesel costs, which reached N1,850/litre, and operational risks during generator transitions. A group of 18 executives from various organizations, enrolled in the Senior Management Programme SMP at the Lagos Business School LBS, identified the hospital's energy challenges and provided a lasting solution. In March 2026, they installed a solar energy system comprising 28 high-capacity solar panels, inverter systems, and lithium battery packs, ensuring 24-hour uninterrupted power for the neonatal unit. This initiative has transformed operations, eliminated blackouts, and allowed medical staff to focus on patient care. Dr. Michael Akpoarebe-Isaac, a representative of the LBS SMP 99 cohort,
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.