FG Inaugurates Siemens Training Facility to Train 6,000 Power Sector Professionals

(Kenny Anuwe speaking during the unveiling of (SEED) training facility in Abeokuta. Photo by Punch News)

The Federal Government, through the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), on Tuesday commissioned the Siemens Energy Education and Development (SEED) training facility in Abeokuta, with an ambitious plan to train a minimum of 6,000 energy professionals as part of efforts to strengthen capacity in Nigeria's power sector.

Delivering a speech at the inauguration, the Director of Human Resources Management at the Federal Ministry of Power, Samaila Nasiru, described the occasion as far more than a mere facility opening, framing it as a profound commitment to the long-term future of Nigeria's energy industry. He explained that the core mandate of the Presidential Power Initiative revolves around the modernisation and expansion of the country's power infrastructure.

Nasiru acknowledged that while considerable investments have already been channelled into grid transmission and distribution under Phase One of the initiative, physical infrastructure alone is insufficient to resolve the deep-rooted challenges plaguing the sector.

He stressed that true and lasting progress can only be achieved when infrastructure development is complemented by deliberate and sustained human capacity building, noting that it is the empowerment of skilled people that makes any technological advancement enduring.

He described the SEED programme as a direct embodiment of this philosophy, highlighting that the five-year initiative is designed to equip 6,000 energy professionals with the technical know-how required to operate, maintain, and optimise complex power systems.

He further disclosed that partnerships with regulatory bodies such as the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) would ensure that programme participants earn internationally recognised certifications upon completion.

Speaking ahead of Nasiru, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the FGN Power Company, Kenny Anuwe, echoed similar sentiments, describing the SEED initiative as a strategic investment in human capital that is fully aligned with the broader objectives of the Presidential Power Initiative.

Anuwe emphasised that the sustainability of Nigeria's power sector transformation depends entirely on the availability of highly skilled professionals capable of efficiently managing transmission and distribution networks across the country.

He characterised the inauguration not merely as the launch of a training programme, but as a landmark investment in people, technical expertise, and the institutional knowledge needed to sustain Nigeria's energy transformation for generations to come.

Continuing his address, the FGN Power Company MD/CEO Kenny Anuwe reiterated that while significant investments are being made nationwide to upgrade transmission and distribution infrastructure under Phase One of the Presidential Power Initiative, hardware and physical infrastructure alone cannot drive lasting change.

He stressed that sustainable growth in the power sector hinges on having a robust pool of highly skilled professionals capable of operating, maintaining, and innovating within these systems, which is precisely why the SEED initiative was conceived.

Anuwe elaborated that the five-year programme targets the training of 6,000 energy professionals across multiple locations in Nigeria, in collaboration with well-regarded regulatory and technical bodies including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).

He noted that these partnerships will ensure trainees receive internationally recognised certifications that enhance their employability not only within Nigeria but across the broader ECOWAS sub-region.

Beyond technical training, Anuwe described the initiative as a deliberate push toward local content development, emphasising that Nigeria's power sector can only truly flourish when the knowledge, skills, and operational expertise needed to sustain its infrastructure are firmly embedded within the local workforce and institutions.

He added that achieving this would simultaneously create jobs, broaden economic opportunities, improve operational efficiency, and position Nigeria as a regional centre of technical excellence in the energy space.

Anuwe also expressed appreciation to key development partners who have supported the initiative, including the European Union, the German Government, Siemens Energy, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Adding his voice to the occasion, the Managing Director of Siemens Energy in Nigeria, Sheu Suleman, stated that the SEED initiative would directly support the Federal Government's broader agenda to reset and reform the power sector, describing the Presidential Power Initiative as central to President Bola Tinubu's energy reform drive.

Suleman noted that beyond addressing technical losses in transmission infrastructure, the programme would facilitate meaningful technology transfer and workforce development. He confirmed that training would be conducted across several locations, including Abeokuta, Offa, Ibadan, Ayede, Birnin Kebbi, and Sokoto, with additional sites to be established in partnership with the Federal Government.

Rounding off the speeches, the Country Director of GIZ in Nigeria, Markus Wagner, affirmed that the SEED initiative is squarely in line with the goals of the Presidential Power Initiative and Nigeria's overall power sector reform objectives, adding that efforts are underway to integrate industry-approved standards and quality assurance frameworks into the training curriculum.