MESL, NEDC to bridge manpower gap in energy sector

Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited and the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) have insisted that a drastic improvement in manpower remains sacrosanct in Nigeria if the country meets the projected electricity supply target.

This comes as the energy and development bodies trained over 50 people in the northeastern part of the country that has been facing an insurgency.

Although the power sector in Nigeria was privatised over 10 years ago to ensure regular supply, supply to homes and industries has remained very poor with grid supply standing at about 3,500 megawatts and off-take by the distribution companies hovering around 2,500 megawatts.

Most stakeholders in the sector have noted that capacity challenges remained a key factor contributing to the poor performance of the sector.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the training, Executive Director of Corporate Services, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, Usman Muhammad Umar, stressed the need for capacity development not only to improve power supply but also to reduce poverty in the country.

The move, according to him, serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment of both the NEDC and MESL towards the empowerment and upliftment of young people.

“In an area that has endured the brunt of unfortunate hardship over the past decade, initiatives such as these are beacons of hope, illuminating the path towards a brighter and more prosperous future,” he said.

Noting that the training done through Mainstream Academy provided an intensive Technical Development Programme, Umar said the programme was designed to provide the needed essential skill set to become competent linesmen to fill manpower gaps in the power sector.

Among the trainees, 46 possess National Diplomas in electrical engineering while four have a National Certificate of Education in Electrical Technology.

The trainees were posted to various business units of Yola Electricity Distribution Company for hands-on job experience to make the programme more robust.

This particular set of highly trained linesmen/technicians would be deployed to strengthen the rehabilitation work of YEDC which is geared toward improving the quality of electricity supply to customers within its area of service, the company said.