In a recent statement, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, shared that Nigeria’s power generation had taken nearly 40 years to increase by 2,000 megawatts, from 2,000MW in 1984 to 4,000MW by 2022. However, the current administration has achieved a remarkable leap in less than two years, bringing power generation to 6,003 megawatts.
Adelabu made these remarks during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), led by its President, Margret Oguntala. The meeting focused on exploring collaboration opportunities between the NSE and the Ministry of Power, including mentorship, strategic partnerships, and the Society’s technical advisory role in the power sector.
According to the minister, Nigeria should have overcome engineering challenges in the power sector given the number of engineers the country has produced. He acknowledged that while progress has been made, Nigeria is not yet where it should be. He credited the success to the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that it took nearly four decades for Nigeria to increase power generation from 2,000MW to 4,000MW, but in less than two years, the administration has raised this figure to 6,003MW.
Adelabu emphasized the importance of training and urged the NSE to inspire the next generation of engineers by setting an example. He also called for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Power and the NSE to address ongoing challenges in the power sector, particularly improving the efficiency of power infrastructure.
“We have so many engineers in Nigeria, yet our power infrastructure still faces challenges like grid collapses. NSE was established in 1958, but we still see these issues. What are our engineers doing?” he questioned, urging the NSE to contribute more effectively to resolving these issues.
The Minister also stressed the need for continuous training and capacity building, pointing out that Nigeria must focus on developing local materials for the power sector to boost employment and conserve foreign exchange. He also encouraged the NSE to mentor younger engineers, providing leadership in the profession.
In response, NSE President Margret Oguntala assured the Minister that the Society is committed to using its technical expertise to contribute to the advancement of Nigeria’s power sector, fostering innovation, and enhancing capacity development.
