x

Engineers raise alarm over shortage of manpower

Mr John Ayodele, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc., raised alarm on Sunday over the shortage of power engineers needed to solve energy challenges in Nigeria.

Ayodele raised the alarm at the 11th Ralph Alabi Memorial Lecture organised by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in Lagos and held virtually.

Speaking on the theme “Challenges in Electricity Distribution in Nigeria: What Engineers should do differently’’, he said that scarcity of power engineers began around year 2000 with the decline sustained.

READ ALSO: Iconic Indian actor Soumitra Chatterjee passes away

He said that the trend was assuming a dangerous dimension which must be tackled through massive grooming of young engineers into the sector to address power challenges.

Ayodele a fellow of the NSE also called for measures and massive education to ensure that more young engineers cherish specialisation in the power arm of the profession to bridge the skills gap.

“There is a deficit of competent electrical/electronic engineers to solve the problem. Most of our undergraduates do not have power background and it is usually difficult to indoctrinate them.

He enumerated the different challenges in the three different stages of power generation, transmission and distribution.

Ayodele, who was the keynote speaker, however commended recent Federal Government’s intervention for mass distribution of pre-paid meters which, he noted, would boost power distribution and ensure effective metering.

“The era of estimated billing would soon be over. We want it to be over too because it is not profitable to the electricity distribution companies too,’’ he said.

He also said the Federal Government’s intervention also offered local engineers the opportunity to be part of meter manufacturing or assembly thereby reducing capital flight and boosting capacities of local industries.

He said a meeting was also on-going between the CBN, the Ministry of Finance and the Presidency which would yield result within the next 70 days.

Earlier, Ayodele explained that DISCOS (electricity distribution companies) were losing revenue to estimated billing, power theft and vandalism which effective metering would resolve.

He also lamented government’s interference in regulation which, he said affected planning and investments in the power sector.

“Service reflective tariff was developed and imposed on us. It is an invention in Nigeria not practiced anywhere in the world,’’ he lamented.

Newly-elected chairman of the Ikeja Branch of the NSE, Mr Olutosin Ogunmola, said in his remarks that the branch would strengthen its Young Engineer’s Forum to encourage more engineers to major in power engineering.

Ogunmola added that the branch would also liaise with tertiary institutions to get more students interested in power engineering specialisation to reverse the decline in interest in the sector.

He said that the annual lecture was held to honour late Eng. Ralph Alabi, the first chairman of the branch and to explore untapped capacities in power distribution in Nigeria.

“Year-in-year-out, we try to look at topical issues by way of providing solutions to current challenges. This year’s topic is apt for us to look inward as engineers on what we can do differently looking at the challenges of electricity,’’ said.

Daybreak reports that new members were also inducted into the Ikeja Branch of the NSE after the lecture.

Hot this week

FOCAC: A Quarter Century of China-Africa Cooperation

By Dr Austin MahoThe Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)...

NGO Trains Plateau Judges, Security Operatives on Enforcement of Child Rights Law 2005

By Israel Adamu, JosThe Child Protection Network (CPN), Plateau...

ABIEXPO: Wike Woos Investors to Abuja’s Business Clime

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju The Minister of the Federal...

Kogi Government Distributes Motorcycles, Vet Kits to Boost Livestock Productivity

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe Kogi State Government has distributed...

North-Central APC Forum Backs Mutfwang, Rejects Plateau APC Leaders’ Move to Block Defection

By Israel Adamu, JosThe North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC)...

Nasarawa Farmers Triple Rice Yields with Climate-Smart Farming Innovations

By Abel Zwanke, LafiaFarmers in Nasarawa State have recorded...

Ex-Liverpool Star Explains Why Arsenal Won’t Win the Premier League This Season

Arsenal’s blistering start to the season has reignited hopes...

Ruben Amorim’s Tactical Shift Could Earn Manchester United £24 Million

Ruben Amorim’s bold decision to deploy a striker-less formation...

NGO Trains Plateau Judges, Security Operatives on Enforcement of Child Rights Law 2005

By Israel Adamu, JosThe Child Protection Network (CPN), Plateau...

CACOL Commends Federal Government for Removing Nigeria from FATF Grey List

By Jabiru HassanThe Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership...

North-Central APC Forum Backs Mutfwang, Rejects Plateau APC Leaders’ Resolution

By Israel Adamu, JosThe North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC)...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img