Sabrud Consortium, a leading meter manufacturing company based in Awka, has entered into a strategic partnership with Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) to facilitate the mass deployment of electricity meters within the university community.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday in Awka, with Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, the Acting Vice Chancellor of NAU, signing on behalf of the University, while Mr. Chiso Nwangwu, Managing Director of Sabrud Consortium, represented his company.
Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. Steve Ufoaroh, Chairman of the University Electricity Monitoring Committee, highlighted the significance of the partnership in addressing energy theft and fostering responsible energy consumption among electricity users in the university.
Ufoaroh disclosed that the university had been grappling with high electricity bills, paying as much as N66 million monthly, while many consumers—ranging from corporate organizations to residents—paid only minimal amounts. He noted that through recent enumeration and monitoring efforts, the monthly bill had reduced to less than N50 million.
“The metering system will ensure that all electricity users, including businesses, hostels, offices, and other facilities, are billed accurately based on consumption, preventing any party from feeling exploited,” he said. He also warned against meter bypass, which would attract a penalty of N100,000.
Mr. Nwangwu, Managing Director of Sabrud Consortium, expressed gratitude to NAU for choosing his company for the project. He emphasized that mass metering was a critical step towards resolving the challenges of estimated billing and ensuring fair energy charges.
“We commend the university management for this forward-thinking initiative. Sabrud Consortium has the capacity to meet the metering demands of NAU and the Southeast region. Additionally, we will provide technical support to NAU staff and students in areas such as electronics, electrical, mechanical, and polymer engineering,” Nwangwu said.
Prof. Ikechebelu described the initiative as a significant milestone in addressing the university’s challenges with electricity costs. He applauded the Electricity Monitoring Committee for its dedication and Sabrud Consortium for demonstrating the capability to implement the project effectively.
“Power is essential to the efficient functioning of the university system. I am confident that this partnership will bring lasting solutions, and the management is committed to sustaining this process,” Ikechebelu stated.
The agreement marks a proactive step by NAU toward achieving transparency, efficiency, and fairness in energy consumption within its community.
