In a bid to deepen penetration in Nigeria’s power sector, the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN), in collaboration with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has announced plans to increase its investment in renewables through the training of skilled personnel.
According to Ahmed Nagode, the director general of NAPTIN, there is an urgent need to develop alternative energy sources by investing in technical skills for green energy development.
He noted that the goal is to chart a new course for the future of the alumni of the Institute towards making contributions to the development of the Nigerian power sector.
The NAPTIN boss said the agency’s focus in the area of renewable was more concentrated around solar PV under the Nigeria Energy Support Programme initiative, a bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Germany being handled by GIZ.
“The power sector is one of the most critical sectors in our country, and it is one that should constantly evolve to cater for the demands of National Development,” Nagode said at the Alumni Seminar of the agency with the theme “Continuous Professional Development: The Key to Unlocking Power Sector Potentials” held in Lagos.
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He added, “Our research has shown that by Unlocking the potentials of the sector through continuous professional development (CPD) we can reliably have a pool of dedicated professionals who will lead the sector in Keeping up with the changing market needs.
“To unlock these potentials, we need to have a continuous supply of skilled and competent workforce that can operate, maintain, and manage assets and institutions within the power sector,” he said. “That is where our training institute and a strong alumni network become useful.”
Nagode also said that the institute has taken steps by pushing for a National Power Sector Training Policy and Framework (NPSTP) that will ensure that a minimum training and capacity building time for every employee in the power sector is respected.
“The power sector is a constantly evolving space, with new technologies, new policies, and new challenges. To keep up with these changes and demands, we need to continuously update our skills and knowledge, and that is why we are laying emphasis today on continuous professional development,” he said.
The Alumni Network, according to NAPTIN, will serve as a platform for building a nexus and collaboration between NAPTIN and its alumni, facilitating the exchange of ideas, technical support, opportunity sharing, and social interaction among alumni.
“The network will enhance performance capacity for both individuals and corporate organizations by sharing knowledge and gathering information,” the institute said. “Sharing NAPTIN’s initiatives aimed at providing better support to the industry’s alumni network.”
NAPTIN was established on March 23, 2009, with the primary purpose of providing training for power sector personnel and coordinating training activities in the sector.
