Yemisi Izuora
Industrial clusters and operators in the South East Nigeria, has taken bold measures to deal with persistent power outages and reduce operational costs.
To ensure affordable and reliable, efficient electricity supply, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, South-East chapter, has officially unveiled the ‘MAN Industrial Energy Adoption Programme’.
The landmark initiative aimed at reducing manufacturers’ energy costs, accelerating industrial competitiveness and positioning Nigerian industries for a low-carbon future.
President of the MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, inaugurated the project during the MAN South-East Industrial Energy Solutions and Investment Symposium in Awka, Anambra State.
The symposium, hosted by the Chairman of MAN, South-East, comprising of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi branches, Lady Adaora Chukwudozie, brought together senior government officials, regulators, financiers, technology companies, engineering partners, development institutions and manufacturers, with the theme, ‘From high energy costs to affordable power: An opportunity for manufacturers’.
Meshioye described affordable and reliable energy as one of the most critical requirements for improving Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness.
He said, “We commend the Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states branches for developing a practical implementation framework capable of helping manufacturers transition from expensive and unreliable power to sustainable industrial energy solutions.
“We urged manufacturers to embrace the initiative and we encourage stakeholders across the public and private sectors to support its successful implementation.”
Earlier, Chukwudozie, said the initiative was conceived in response to one of the greatest concerns consistently raised by manufacturers – the rising cost of energy.
Chukwudozie explained that while manufacturers fully appreciate the importance of affordable energy, their concerns have become increasingly practical.
She said, “Manufacturers are asking: Which solution is right for my factory? Who can I trust? How will the project be financed? Who will implement it? And will it truly work for my business?
“As MAN, we recognised that our responsibility could not end with identifying challenges. Leadership demands more. It requires us to create opportunities for solutions, build credible partnerships and provide practical pathways for progress.”
She said the symposium was deliberately designed to assemble every critical stakeholder required to move manufacturers from interest to implementation.
Chukwudozie explained that manufacturers adopting cleaner energy solutions would not only improve operational efficiency, but also reduce carbon emissions, strengthen the environmental, social and governance credentials and move towards carbon neutrality.
Chukwudozie appealed to all stakeholders to support the successful delivery of the project.
One of major highlights of the event was the presentation of the implementation framework developed by the Managing Director of the MAN Power Development Company Limited, Owe Sam.
“The programme is expected to help participating manufacturers reduce energy costs by as much as 40 or 45 per cent, depending on each company’s operational profile and project configuration,” he added.
The Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Chiamaka Nnake, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the initiative through strategic collaboration.
Nnake, who represented the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, commended MAN for convening a practical solution-driven initiative.
In his speech, the Chairman and Chief Executive Commissioner of the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Prof. Nwoye Okafor, assured investors and manufacturers that the commission would continue working collaboratively with industry stakeholders to facilitate transparent, investor-friendly and efficient regulatory processes that encourage innovation while protecting the integrity of the electricity market.
The state Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Chukwudi Agumadu, also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to expanding access to reliable electricity for productive sectors of the economy.