By Uzoamaka Mfoniso
Nigeria’s ambition to revolutionise power sector training across Africa has received a bold boost with the commissioning of five new training workshops and a 104-room hostel at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) Headquarters in Abuja.
Jointly co-funded by the European Union and the French Development Agency (AFD), the project goes beyond brick-and-mortar infrastructure, embodying the spirit of international cooperation and shared commitment to Nigeria’s sustainable energy future.
This is projected to be the launchpad for a continental knowledge hub designed to transform vocational training in the power sector, consolidate Nigeria’s leadership in human capacity development, and drive Africa’s energy future.
The NAPTIN AFD–EU Project, launched in 2015 through a bilateral agreement between Nigeria and France, blends funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union. It aims to transform NAPTIN into a globally recognized centre of excellence for vocational training across the power sector value chain.
The Director General of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Ahmed Nagode, could not hide his excitement at the commissioning of new workshops and a 104-room hostel at the institute’s headquarters in Abuja.
“… This is our dream coming alive, and I thank God for making it possible, I have no doubt in my mind that we have started on that very journey to transform vocational training in the power sector not only in Nigeria,” He said.
Impact Outlook
The commissioning of the 5 new training workshops and 104 hostel hostel, sets NAPTIN on course to play a critical role in bridging Nigeria’s skills gap in the energy sector, providing world-class training for young engineers, technicians, and innovators.
Nagode paid glowing tribute to the foresight of NAPTIN’s pioneer Director General Engr. Reuben Okeke while also recognising the support of government and international partners.
“The pioneer DG is more or less an unsung hero. We have built on his efforts, and with the support of the Honourable Minister, the Ambassadors of the EU and France, our contractors and consultants, we are living our dream of being a centre of excellence not only in Nigeria and West Africa but in Africa and beyond,” he stated.
Continental Capacity Hub
The DG also pointed to the project’s potential to consolidate Nigeria’s status as a continental power house in vocational training for the power sector.
“With this infrastructure, I have no doubt in my mind that we have started the journey to transform vocational training in the power sector not only in Nigeria but across Africa. This will be a hub of knowledge and a centre of attraction for the West African subcontinent,” Nagode noted, citing India’s Bangalore as a global parallel.
“We’re also a centre of excellence within the Western African power pool and with that very status, with this infrastructure, we will definitely consolidate on our status and keep on improving, and make this a hub of knowledge,” he added.
Social Inclusivity
NAPTIN under Nagode’s leadership has gender sensitivity and social inclusion as an integral part of the design of the new facilities, with provisions for women, mothers, and the physically challenged.
“We have courses on gender, we have courses that will take care of social inclusion…Our partners, AFD and the European Union, made us realise from conception that this was the way to go. We have a crèche for mothers, facilities for persons with disabilities, and curricula that reflect gender and inclusion. There should be no barrier to learning,” he said.
Driving the Renewed Hope Agenda
The NAPTIN DG linked the project to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially its focus on job creation and youth empowerment.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we have developed three critical skills areas—solar PV installation, metering installation, and electrical installation. These will empower young Nigerians to be self-employed and become entrepreneurs,” Nagode declared.
“…if you can get critical mass trained on this, we are going to improve our economy, we are going to help in job creation as expected by Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in his vision to make sure that the economy is grown and also we create environment where young Nigerians can be on their own, can become entrepreneurs, can also be self-employed and then contribute to the growth and development of our country.” He projected.
In his visionary blueprint, Nagode said ” this will be a centre of attraction, a hub you know for the West African you know subcontinent. Nigeria can be a world-class human capacity building centre, citadel of knowledge and that’s we want this centre to be. I have no doubt in my mind that we have started on that very journey to transform vocational training in the power sector not only in Nigeria. We are centre of excellence on the power utilities of Africa. “
