The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has announced its readiness to train at least 1,500 engineers and technicians to strengthen capabilities in the Nigerian electricity sector. The announcement was made during a one day Stakeholders Engagement for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) held in Abuja. The event was organised under the programme Enhancing Vocational Training Delivery for the Nigerian Power Sector with the theme Building a Skilled and Sustainable Workforce for NESI Transformation.
Speaking at the engagement, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Alhaji Mamudah Mamman, represented by Mr Mustapha Babaumara, Director of Distribution in the Ministry of Power, confirmed that a new policy framework had been developed to support the training initiative. According to him, “The ministry has developed a policy for NAPTIN to train about 1,500 engineers and technicians throughout the country in the next two years.”
Mamman noted that achieving this goal required cooperation from sector stakeholders due to existing financial limitations facing the institute. He said, “This cannot be realised with the current financial status of NAPTIN, so we are encouraging stakeholders in the power sector to engage their staff and take advantage of their facilities to train personnel.”
He explained that the programme was essential for the protection and maintenance of technical assets deployed in the industry. Mamman stated, “This training is necessary for the safety of the state-of-the-art equipment that are put in place to be operated and maintained.”
He also commented on national efforts toward stable power supply. According to him, the government had made progress, but technical competence still limited full sector improvement. He said, “However, all these policies cannot be achieved without a skilled manpower in the sector.”
He added that both the renewable energy industry and conventional electricity market demanded solid technical workers. “We need a strong manpower, both in the renewable energy sector and the conventional power supply system which I believe NAPTIN is up to that task with the present class of training facilities put in place,” he said.
Mamman also encouraged distribution, generation and transmission companies to adopt and apply the training curriculum developed by NAPTIN. He said young graduates cannot immediately operate power equipment without relevant training. “Power sector is not a sector that a fresh graduate can come in and start operating. You need to train them,” he said. He urged organisations to use the institute’s resources, saying this would help build the electricity sector Nigerians desire.
Also speaking, Programme Manager, Energy and Circular Economy at the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr Godfrey Ogbemudia, confirmed EU support for NAPTIN under different project components. He explained that the EU was funding Component 1 and Component 2 of the NAPTIN development project while supporting the Federal Government and the institute in drafting curriculum for Component 3.
Ogbemudia said, “The EU supported NAPTIN in corporate development in Component 1 that focuses on curriculum development and we have helped the institute in developing over 65 new courses as well as revision of existing ones.” He also noted that customer management processes at the institute had been studied to improve access and operational awareness.
“We have also analysed NAPTIN’s customers’ management processes to identify opportunities for improvement and define new marketing processes to increase awareness of how the institution operates,” he said.
He highlighted the EU’s participation in the renewable energy landscape in Nigeria. According to him, the EU pioneered private sector led mini grids and interconnected mini grids, enabling major growth in the solar industry. Ogbemudia said, “We have done a lot in the solar market, adding that they were the first to start innovative private sector led mini-grids and interconnected mini-grids in the country.”
He mentioned that work had expanded into other renewable energy forms such as wind power. “We are currently supporting the Nigerian government through the Ministry of Power in developing a roadmap and action plan for wind energy in the country,” he said. He explained that on site wind measurement was expected to start soon.
He further revealed efforts in hydropower development. Ogbemudia said, “I am working with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation to develop several private sector-led small hydropower projects across the country.” He said the first small hydropower construction at Balanga Dam would commence before June next year. According to him, between 2021 and 2027, the EU aims to support Nigeria in contributing 400 megawatts from renewable sources to impact about five million citizens.
Earlier, Director General of NAPTIN, Mr Ahmed Nagode, said the theme of the engagement was timely because of sector challenges. He stressed that the success of infrastructure upgrades and market reforms depends on a skilled workforce. According to him, “Without a sustainable skilled workforce, infrastructure remained underutilised, investments underperformed, and the national aspiration for stable and affordable power would remain elusive.”
Nagode acknowledged that while NAPTIN understood the link between sector performance and human capacity, skill gaps still existed. He said industry output did not always match real labour needs and collaboration remained weak. “These are the very barriers we are assembled here today to address,” he said. He added that the objective of the engagement was practical action rather than mere dialogue.
Nagode said the institute intended to shift from consultation to structured collaboration. He said, “In the sessions today, you will hear about our journey, our strategic direction, our readiness to serve as the central coordinating pillar for skill development in NESI.” He assured participants that NAPTIN intended to collect sector concerns and suggestions to develop better partnerships. “More importantly, we are to listen to your challenges, your needs, your advice, and your ideas for a true public-private partnership in human capacity building,” he said.
Nagode expressed confidence that the meeting would lead not only to reports but to mutual action. He expected that discussions would support technical knowledge exchange, integrate research knowledge into operation and establish financially sustainable cooperation across the industry. The engagement brought key operators together to reflect on skill gaps and strengthen collaboration for workforce improvement in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
