By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE NIGERIAN Society of Engineers (NSE) has been urged by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to strengthen its collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power in tackling the country’s power sector challenges.
This plea came during a visit by the NSE, led by its President Engr. Margret Aina Oguntala, to discuss potential areas of collaboration and strategic partnerships that could enhance the power sector’s development.
The Minister highlighted the importance of technical advisory support and mentorship opportunities, stressing that engineers must play a more proactive role in addressing the sector’s challenges.
He pointed out that despite the high number of engineers produced in Nigeria, the country has yet to overcome its energy infrastructure issues, particularly the frequent power grid failures that continue to plague the nation.
“There is no way to separate the Power Ministry from the NSE because most of our works here are engineering-related,” Adelabu remarked, emphasising the need for mutual benefits and a deeper impact from NSE members on Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
He questioned why, despite the country’s wealth of engineers, Nigeria’s power infrastructure remains underdeveloped, with frequent grid collapses, despite the NSE’s establishment in 1958.
The Minister further addressed the progress made by the current administration in power generation. He noted that while it took Nigeria nearly 40 years to increase its electricity output from 2,000 megawatts in 1984 to 4,000 megawatts by 2022, the current administration has increased capacity to over 6,000 megawatts in under two years, underlining the government’s commitment to transforming the sector.
“Though we are not where we should be, this increase demonstrates the administration’s dedication to improving the power sector as a key driver of economic growth,” Adelabu stated, also calling on the NSE to focus on infrastructure challenges and contribute towards national development through their expertise.
In his appeal for enhanced collaboration, Adelabu stressed the importance of rigorous training and the revitalisation of Nigeria’s engineering workforce. He urged the NSE to take the issue of training seriously, pointing to the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) as a potential partner for nurturing new talent.
He also underscored the need for local capacity building in the power sector, emphasising that Nigeria must prioritise the domestic production of power-related materials. This, he said, would not only boost employment but also reduce foreign exchange dependency, fostering a more self-sufficient energy sector.
In response, Engr. Oguntala assured the Minister of the NSE’s commitment to addressing the challenges raised.
She promised that the NSE would contribute its technical expertise towards enhancing Nigeria’s power infrastructure, fostering innovation, and promoting capacity development within the industry.
