‎By Michael Ajayi
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‎The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) says it is repositioning the organisation for optimal service delivery with its hybrid training session for 1,000 staff members.
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‎The Director-General of ECN, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, stated this at the opening ceremony of the capacity-building programme for the personnel on Saturday in Abuja.
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‎Abdullahi said the training would run simultaneously, onsite and virtual, in its six centres across the country on Nov. 7 and 14.
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‎He explained that building staff capacity was critical to advancing the nation’s energy agenda in all geo-political zones.
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‎He said the initiative represented the first time all the commission’s staff assembled for a training exercise of such magnitude.
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‎He described the exercise as the fulfilment of an institutional development commitment made upon assuming office in October 2023.
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‎“The commission’s ability to discharge statutory responsibilities depends largely on the competence and capacity of its workforce.
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‎“The training equips staff with administrative, professional and technical knowledge required to deliver better results to Nigerians.
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‎“A competent workforce remains essential to achieving national energy security and executing the federal solarisation drive,” he said.
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‎Abdullahi explained that past training sessions were conducted in separate groups across different locations and occasions.
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‎He disclosed that management planned to make the unified exercise a regular programme held quarterly or semi-annually.
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‎He noted that support from President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology strengthened the commission’s financial capacity to deliver results.
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‎Similarly, the Commission’s Director of Legal Services, Elama Abdulazeez, said the two-day opening phase would sensitise staff to the commission’s enabling law and legal framework.
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‎Abdulazeez noted that initial sessions on Nov. 7 covered general administration, finance, procurement and stores before transitioning into specialised engineering modules.
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‎He said special attention would be paid to the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative (NPSSI) in the subsequent phase.
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‎The NPSSI is a flagship initiative of the Nigerian government launched in 2025 to deploy solar power systems in public institutions across the country.
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‎Abdulazeez explained that the federal solarisation programme would work to extend reliable power to tertiary institutions and select healthcare facilities nationwide.
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‎“The initiative reduces financial burdens on beneficiary institutions and frees up grid electricity for other underserved areas.
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‎“Providing alternative solar power to public facilities lowers operational costs and improves overall resource utilisation.
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‎“Expanding electricity access through solar power remains critical to addressing Nigeria’s persistent energy challenges,” he said.(NAN)
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‎Edited by Magdalene Ukuedojor