The Federal Government has inaugurated the Siemens Energy Education and Development (SEED) training facility in Abeokuta as part of efforts to strengthen technical capacity in Nigeria’s power sector and support ongoing reforms under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
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The facility, commissioned on Tuesday, is expected to train 6,000 energy professionals over the next five years to address manpower gaps in electricity transmission, distribution and system management across the country Nigeria Startup News reports.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Director of Human Resource Management at the Federal Ministry of Power, Mr Samaila Nasiru, described the initiative as a major investment in human capital development for the energy sector.
According to him, the launch of the SEED facility represents more than the opening of a training centre, noting that it reflects the Federal Government’s long-term commitment to building a skilled workforce capable of supporting modern power infrastructure.
Nasiru said the Federal Government was already investing heavily in transmission and distribution upgrades nationwide under Phase 1 of the PPI, but stressed that infrastructure alone would not solve the country’s electricity challenges.
He said sustainable progress in the sector depended on competent professionals who could operate, maintain and optimise advanced power systems.
“The SEED programme is a brilliant manifestation of this philosophy. This training centre is the cornerstone of our human capital development strategy,” he said.
“The initiative is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s workforce; the five-year programme is designed to train 6,000 energy professionals.
“The programme will strengthen local capacity in the power sector and ensure that technical expertise is firmly rooted within the domestic workforce.”
Nasiru added that the Federal Ministry of Power was working closely with regulatory agencies including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to ensure participants receive internationally recognised certifications.
He explained that the initiative also aligns with the Federal Government’s local content agenda by helping to create jobs, deepen technical expertise and position Nigeria as a regional hub for energy training and technical excellence.
Managing Director of FGN Power Company, Mr Kenny Anuwe, also described the SEED initiative as a strategic intervention designed to strengthen the country’s electricity sector through technical capacity building.
According to Anuwe, the programme supports the broader objectives of the PPI, which focuses on modernising and expanding Nigeria’s power infrastructure to improve electricity supply and drive economic growth.
He said Nigeria’s power reforms would only succeed if the country develops a strong pool of skilled professionals capable of managing critical transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Anuwe commended development partners including the European Union, the German Government, Siemens Energy and GIZ for supporting the project.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute to energy sustainability, workforce development and industrial growth in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Siemens Energy, Mr Sheu Suleman, said the SEED initiative would support the Federal Government’s plan to reposition Nigeria’s power sector through technical knowledge transfer and workforce development.
Suleman said the PPI remained central to President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda for the electricity sector.
According to him, the programme would help reduce technical losses in transmission infrastructure while also building local expertise through modern training systems.
He disclosed that training activities under the initiative would take place across several locations including Abeokuta, Offa, Ibadan, Ayede, Birnin Kebbi and Sokoto, with additional centres expected to be introduced in partnership with the Federal Government.
Country Director of GIZ Nigeria, Mr Markus Wagner, said the initiative aligned strongly with the goals of the PPI and ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s power sector.
Wagner noted that industry-approved standards and quality assurance systems were being integrated into the training programmes to ensure participants receive globally competitive skills.
Nigeria Startup News reports that representatives of the European Union, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Ogun State Government attended the inauguration ceremony in Abeokuta.
