•FG sets up new council to advert power disaster
To improve electricity supply across Africa and reduce dependency on expatriates from Europe and other continents, Nigeria is currently training several personnel in Southern and Western countries.
The manpower development done through the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has seen Nigeria train workers of utility companies in Malawi, Liberia, Mozambique, Ghana, Togo and others.
The revelation comes at a time when Nigeria continues to countries with the least efficient power sectors.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at an event that brought NAPTIN, the Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), Ministry of Power together, stakeholders in the industry said the federal government is overhauling NAPTIN into an international competition agency to urgently address the human capacity issues in the energy sector in Nigeria.
Director-General of NAPTIN, Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, said Nigeria has an existing contract with countries across Africa to provide human capacity development in the electricity sector.
“One of my instructors just returned from Malawi where we provided training to electrical companies of Malawi.
“We are also training personnel in Portuguese-speaking countries like Mozambique; we have a contract with Angola. On the West African side, we have trained electricity workers in Ghana. We have a contract to train people in Liberia,” he said.
Disclosing that the current administration is aggressively investing in the country’s electricity training assets and infrastructure, Nagode said Nigeria is a centre of excellence under the West African Power Pool (WAPP) Protocol and as a member of the African Network of Centres of Excellence in Electricity (ANCEE) family.
Nagode disclosed that NAPTIN has trained over 1000 staff across Africa and has some contracts that are still ongoing.
Calling for collaboration to drive the growth of the electricity sector in Nigeria, Nagode said there is a need to foster an environment of inclusivity and cooperation, where stakeholders, from government agencies to private companies and academia to industry experts, would have a seat at the table and share their voices in shaping the direction of the power sector.
“We can bridge gaps, overcome challenges, and unlock new opportunities for growth and progress. The energy landscape is evolving rapidly, with advancements in technology, changes in regulatory frameworks and shifting market dynamics. To stay ahead and remain competitive, we must invest in our human capital through quality training programs, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and capacity-building activities,” he said.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Power, Mamudah Mamman, said human capital remained the backbone of the electricity supply sector, where the complexity of technologies and processes require not just skilled hands but innovative minds to navigate and harness the potential within.
Noting the need to acknowledge and address the need for continuous development, upskilling and empowering of the workforce, he said the Nigerian electricity supply industry is at a pivotal stage.
“As we strive towards enhancing our capacity and reliability in electricity supply, the role of skilled human capital cannot be overstated.
Our collective aim is to forge a future where our energy sector is not only sustainable but is also a beacon of innovation and excellence in Africa and beyond. This requires an unwavering commitment to investing in the training, development, and empowerment of our workforce.
“We stand united in the belief that the development of human capital is integral to achieving our goals in the NESI. It is through our skilled professionals, technicians, engineers, and all members of the workforce that we can innovate, improve service delivery, and drive the sector,” Mamman said.
