Technology Firm Partners FG on Green Energy

As part of efforts to tackle the lingering electricity power problem in the country, PNN, a pan-African technology service provider has entered a four-year partnership with the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) to provide renewable energy capacity building within the country.

The company with interest in the development of the communications and power sectors in nine African countries will work with the institute to standardise training quality in Nigeria as part of the Federal Government’s power reform programme.

To deliver under this collaboration, PNN will work with the Renewable Energy Technology Institute (RETI) to develop and deliver programmes that meet international standards.

RETI is expected to work with NAPTIN to consolidate and standardize training across Nigeria for all persons, establishments and institutions that would participate in the country’s growing renewable energy sector; and will award three levels of national certification, which will qualify participants to work anywhere in the power industry, globally.

NAPTIN certification will qualify its recipients to work anywhere in the renewable energy sector, in Nigeria and all over the world. RETI will conduct the training programme in conjunction with NAPTIN staff as well as international partners, who will also deliver training under the institute’s train-the-trainer curriculum.

Speaking at press conference, Engr. Reuben Okeke, the director-general and CEO of NAPTIN, said, “NAPTIN’s choice of PNN was mainly based on PNN’s clear understanding of the requirements for improving standards of training for all personnel in the renewable energy sector, as well as standardizing knowledge across the board, at all levels of participation. 

“PNN, being an accredited partner of the Federal Government’s renewable energy programme, has been chosen to work with us to fast track the important renewable energy training component of our mandate.”

He added, “The need to ensure we provide renewable training capacity will prevent the nation from further plunging her resources into failed renewable energy programmes that are being implemented across the country by various federal and state government MDAs.

“We need to ensure that all staff involved in designing, implementing and maintaining renewable energy installations nationwide not only receive proper training, but also get accredited and certified to prevent this failing.”

Professor Olurinde Lafe confirmed that the NAPTIN/RETI training programme is also a key component of PAWA 774, a private sector development project that aims to provide green energy to each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. 

PAWA 774 delivers renewable electricity via a smart-grid, powered by 100KW renewable energy power plants in community clusters. Each of these power plants will make up PAWA 774’s 10MW per LGA target, to be met over the next 5 years. All PAWA 774 employees will be trained in all aspects of renewable energy supply, operations and management, following which they will become NAPTIN-certified to participate in the power sector, anywhere in the world.

RETI will provide training in all areas of renewable energy supply, operations and management, including the installation, operation and maintenance of solar PV, wind, biomass and hydro-power systems.