FG TO TRAIN 6,000 ENERGY PROFESSIONALS
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By; Ganiyat Sunmola
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Siemens Energy Education and Development (SEED) training facility in Abeokuta under the Presidential Power Initiative, with plans to train 6,000 energy professionals over the next five years to strengthen Nigeria’s power sector.
Speaking during the inauguration on Tuesday, the Director of Human Resources Management at the Federal Ministry of Power, Samaila Nasiru, described the project as a major step towards securing the future of Nigeria’s energy industry.
According to him, the Presidential Power Initiative is focused on modernising and expanding the country’s power infrastructure, but stressed that infrastructure investment alone cannot solve the sector’s challenges without building human capacity.
He explained that while the Federal Government and its partners are making significant investments in grid transmission and distribution under the initiative’s first phase, sustainable progress depends largely on empowering skilled professionals.
Nasiru said the SEED programme was designed to develop a competent workforce capable of operating, maintaining, and improving complex power systems across the country.
He added that the initiative would collaborate with regulatory agencies such as the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency to provide participants with internationally recognised certifications.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FGN Power Company, Kenny Anuwe, said the initiative would strengthen the nation’s electricity sector through technical training and human capital development.
He noted that the programme aligns with the objectives of the Presidential Power Initiative, which seeks to modernise and expand Nigeria’s power infrastructure for long-term national growth.
According to Anuwe, the programme is not only about training but also about equipping Nigerians with the technical expertise needed to sustain the country’s energy transformation.
He explained that the five-year initiative would train professionals at different centres across the country in collaboration with organisations such as COREN, NEMSA, and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
Anuwe added that the partnership would provide internationally recognised certifications capable of enhancing employability within Nigeria and across the ECOWAS region.
He further stated that the initiative is aimed at promoting local content development by ensuring technical knowledge and operational expertise remain within the Nigerian workforce.
The FGN Power Company boss commended development partners including the European Union, the German Government, Siemens Energy, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit for supporting Nigeria’s energy reforms.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Siemens Energy Nigeria, Sheu Suleman, said the programme would support the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the power sector under President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda.
Suleman stated that the initiative would help reduce technical losses in transmission infrastructure while also promoting technology transfer and workforce development.
He revealed that training would take place in several locations, including Abeokuta, Offa, Ibadan, Ayede, Birnin Kebbi, and Sokoto, with more centres expected to be established in partnership with the Federal Government.
The Country Director of GIZ Nigeria, Markus Wagner, said the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s power sector reform goals and would incorporate industry-approved standards and quality assurance into its training programmes.
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