29 March 2016, Abuja – The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has said that it will welcome the input of operators in Nigeria’s power sector to develop tailor-made training and capacity building products for use in the sector.
NAPTIN explained that because of the significant roles which a smart workforce would be expected to play in the development of Nigeria’s power sector, it had asked operators in the sector to partner it to jointly develop curricula that best fitted their operations and also reflected the current dynamics in the electricity market.
The Director General of NAPTIN, Mr. Reuben Okeke said this recently in Abuja when the institute inducted 100 graduate engineers for further training on power systems under its National Graduate Skills Development Programme (NGDSP).
Okeke stated that the institute had also gone ahead in this regards to engage an international consultant, CPCS, with the support of France’s Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) to develop for it new strategic plans with which it would use to engage with the electricity market and its new innovations.
“We wish to call out to prospective employers to also partner with us so that we can jointly develop curriculum relevant to the market’s needs and also undertake quality assurance not only from an academic perspective but also from the market needs,” said Okeke.
He further explained: “We are mindful of the fact that the success of the recent power sector reform will in part depend on the availability of a qualified workforce to meet the needs of the industry.”
“With this consciousness in mind, NAPTIN is currently working with CPCS through funding support of the AFD to evolve a new strategic plan which not only encompasses the training needs of the new private entrants but also their participation in the delivery process,” he added.
According to him, when the CPCS concludes its consultancy work, NAPTIN is expected to use it to turn itself into a centre of excellence for power vocational training.
Okeke also urged the National Assembly to consider strengthening NAPTIN with a legislative Act which he said would enable it improve on its mandate to train people for the power sector.
He said: “We are pushing for an Act of the parliament to ensure that we are much more backed by law so we can be more recognised and train more Nigerians.”
According to him, 63 of the 100 trainees that were inducted would be sponsored by Mainstream Energy Solutions which operates the Kainji/Jebba Hydropower, and NetcoDietman, while others were sponsored by Guinness Nigeria Plc, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Borno states.
- This Day
