Nigeria Trains S’Africa, Angola, Others To Boost Electricity

By Kingsley Jeremiah, Abuja 18 May 2023   |   5:08 am National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has begun training of electricity companies across Africa to address capacity gaps and revolutionise energy on the continent. National Manpower Training Institute of Nigeria(NAPTIN) Alumni, Deborah Akinga (left); Lead Consultant, TESB, Sikiru Rufai; Director General, National NAPTIN, Ahmed Bolaji Nagode; Director Legal, NAPTIN, Barr. Kunle Oyenusi, at the NAPTIN alumni seminar held in Abuja. National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has begun training of electricity companies across Africa to address capacity gaps and revolutionise energy on the continent. The Director-General, Ahmed Nagode, said South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Ghana, Liberia and others had been trained. Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a programme hosted by alumni of the institute, which focused on the need to unlock potentials in Nigeria’s power sector, Nagode advised the incoming administration to consolidate projects and scout for new investors.  He said the move to empower utilities was critical to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), besides foreign exchange generation for Nigeria. Nagode submitted: “For us, we are working with France to transform vocational training in the power sector. That’s very key because government has seen the need to build skills and provide jobs. The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has done well in that regard. I must admit that there is potential in renewable energy. But there is a big gap in human capital and that’s a source of concern. Government is trying, but we have to do more. “I must say that the training at NAPTIN is world-class, and we are a centre of excellence in Africa. “We have trained staff of Malawi and South Africa. We just concluded training for 100 staff of Mozambique electricity industry. We are training staff in Angola and we are starting another in Liberia in the second week of June. We are not only training staff of Nigerian power utilities, but we are also generating foreign exchange for the country because the training we offer outside of Nigeria is paid for in forex.  “We have AFCTA and this is the perfect time to build such skills across the continent.” 1 hour ago Joint security forces in Anambra State are currently combing Amiyi/Eke Ochuche and other communities in Ogbaru Council of the state to fish out killers of two staff members of the United States Embassy in Nigeria and two Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel, whose convoy was attacked last Tuesday in the area. 1 hour ago Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday, urged Nigerians to embrace eNaira, saying it is like the physical currency and also a legal tender of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The apex bank noted that eNaira is under its direct liability. 1 hour ago Activities at the National Hospital in Abuja were paralysed, yesterday, due to the five-day warning strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). 1 hour ago For proper training and preparedness of officers to deliver on Federal Fire Service (FFS) mandate, government has unveiled a simulator machine-driven firehouse at National Fire Academy, Sheda, Abuja. 1 hour ago The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, convicted and sentenced two men, John Kanu, and Obinna Eze, to four years imprisonment for conspiracy and unlawful possession of 839.4kg of pangolin scales and 145kg of elephant tusks.