Tunde Bakare
An extensive skill acquisition programme in the power sector is being developed by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in collaboration with the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).
The programme targets the training of 4,000 Nigerian youths in electricity meter installation.
The Director-General of NAPTIN, Mr Ahmed Nagode, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a one-day Stakeholders Engagement Workshop.
The workshop, themed “Building Bridges: Research, Internship and Innovation for a Sustainable Nigerian Power Sector,” was organised by NAPTIN in collaboration with 5 Creators Ltd.
Nagode explained that the initiative aimed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills to install electricity meters across the country.
“The training programme is a pathway to employment and financial independence, contributing to the transformation of Nigeria’s power sector.
“We currently face a metering gap of about seven million units. This collaboration with PMI will help address that shortfall,” he said.
Nagode noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had already been signed with PMI, and training was expected to begin soon.
“We have a robust plan in place and will conduct the training across all six geopolitical zones to ensure broad participation,” he added.
Nagode said the stakeholders’ engagement was critical to identify and address the nation’s training needs in the power sector.
He emphasised three core areas for discussion: job creation, research and development, and internship and industry linkage.
On job creation, Nagode highlighted a major skills mismatch between graduates and the demands of the labour market.
“There is a high rate of unemployment, not necessarily because jobs don’t exist, but because the required skills are lacking,” he explained.
He stressed the need for collaboration with universities to boost research and development, which he described as essential to solve persistent challenges in the sector.
The third area of focus, according to Nagode, was fostering stronger internship opportunities and industry-academic linkages to bridge the gap between learning and practice.
He reiterated NAPTIN’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of solar photovoltaic (PV) installation, electrical works, and meter installation.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Mr Aliyu Tahir, said his agency was partnering with NAPTIN to improve workforce skills and promote excellence.
“We are facing a significant talent gap due to an ageing workforce, skills mismatch, and limited exposure to technical standards.
“Without urgent action, our infrastructure investments may outpace the availability of competent professionals to manage them,” Tahir warned.
Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Alhaji Mamman Mahmuda, commended NAPTIN for organising the engagement, noting its alignment with ongoing power sector reforms.
Represented by Mr Babaumara Mustapha, Director of Distribution at the ministry, Mahmuda stressed the urgent need to address the human capacity deficit in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
“Many of our experienced engineers have retired or are close to leaving service.
“NAPTIN, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has developed a curriculum for training maintenance personnel, which stakeholders should fully leverage,” he said.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the power industry, academia, and other technical experts.