Nigeria retools power sector, eyes regional training hub

NIGERIA is expanding local capacity to train technical workforce for the sector sector in its bid to becoming a regional training hub and supplier of requisite manpower and expertise.

To make good the intention, the nation is equipping its power training centres with state-of-the art simulators and equipment, including electric laboratories.

Also Wednesday, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) announced a collaboration to check quackery in the power sector.

Similarly, henceforth, before any utility wants to import any skilled manpower into the country, it must secure a letter of no objection from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The idea, NAPTIN announced Wednesday, is to promote local skills.

At a meeting with the management team of the NSE held in Abuja, the Director General of NAPTIN, Engr. Reuben Okeke, said that the German government had built a 25-Kilowatt power plant for the training of Nigerian engineers in renewable energy. 

 The training plant, he said, is stationed at the Kainji Power Plant, Niger State and would be commissioned by the Minister of Power next week.

He also announced that Nigeria had acquired a unique 450-mega watt combined circle simulator stationed at the Afam Power Plant, River States to train mechanical and electrical engineers from Nigeria and other African countries.

Okeke said: “We have as well acquired a 450 mega watt combined circle simulator which has just been built at Afam Power Plant for training of all the mechanical engineers and electrical engineers that work in the power stations. It is a complete simulator where everything concerning any power station up to 400 megawatts is learnt.  All kinds of force can be simulated at that facility. The operation of a power station, including the turbines and the compressors can be done in that place. It is going to be a hub.