'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has called for stronger collaboration between the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Federal Ministry of Power to address the lingering challenges facing Nigeria’s power sector.
Adelabu made this call during a courtesy visit by the NSE, led by its President, Engr. Margret Aina Oguntala, to discuss areas of partnership, mentorship opportunities, and the NSE’s role in providing technical advisory support to the ministry.
Highlighting the vast number of engineers produced by Nigeria, Adelabu expressed concerns that the country should have overcome many engineering-related problems, particularly in the power sector. He urged Nigerian engineers to take training seriously and serve as role models for the younger generation to rekindle their interest in the profession.
“There is no way to separate the Power Ministry from the NSE because most of our work here is engineering-related, so there is a natural relationship between us. But the issue is, has this relationship crystallized into mutual benefits? Has the ministry benefited from the competence of NSE members in enhancing power infrastructure and ensuring stable electricity supply?” Adelabu questioned.
The Minister further challenged the NSE to ensure its expertise translates into tangible improvements in the efficiency of the country’s critical power infrastructure. He noted that despite NSE’s establishment in 1958—over six decades ago—Nigeria still faces issues like grid collapses, raising concerns about the impact of engineers in the sector.
While reviewing government efforts in the power sector, Adelabu noted that it took nearly 40 years for Nigeria’s electricity generation to grow from 2,000 megawatts (MW) in 1984 to 4,000MW in 2022. However, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, generation has increased to 6,003MW in under two years. While acknowledging that Nigeria is still far from meeting its power needs, he emphasized the administration’s commitment to transforming the sector.
“In 1984, Nigeria generated just 2,000MW of electricity, and it took nearly four decades to reach 4,000MW by 2022. However, within two years of this administration, we have increased it to 6,000MW. This progress is due to the commitment of President Tinubu’s administration to revamp the sector,” Adelabu stated.
He urged the NSE to focus on addressing Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges as a demonstration of patriotism and nationalism, stressing that failure to do so would be a “slight” on Nigerian engineers. He also revealed that the Ministry of Power only awards contracts to companies that are members of the NSE, underscoring the importance of reciprocal commitment from the engineering community.
Furthermore, Adelabu emphasized the need for continuous training and manpower development within the sector. He urged the NSE to prioritize training, adding that the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) remains a viable partner for such capacity-building initiatives.
“The profession requires constant training and retraining. Unfortunately, training has been relegated to the background. The last batch of well-trained engineers were those from the old National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). We must revive rigorous training programs to enhance sector capacity,” he said.
Addressing the importance of local content in the power industry, the Minister stressed the need for Nigeria to produce essential power sector materials domestically. He argued that this would promote employment, boost patronage for local industries, and help conserve foreign exchange. He also called on the NSE to provide mentorship for young engineers to inspire and guide them in their careers.
In her response, NSE President Engr. Margret Aina Oguntala assured the Minister that the NSE would rise to the challenges he outlined. She reaffirmed the society’s commitment to providing technical expertise to enhance Nigeria’s power sector, drive innovation, and build capacity within the industry.
“We take the Minister’s concerns seriously and will intensify our efforts to provide technical support, mentorship, and strategic innovations to improve the power sector,” Oguntala said.
The meeting reinforced the need for a more active role by Nigerian engineers in addressing the country’s energy challenges and signaled a renewed collaboration between the government and the engineering community in achieving sustainable power sector reforms.
