The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has partnered with the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) to train 4,000 Nigerian youths in electricity meter installation, a move aimed at tackling the country’s significant metering deficit and youth unemployment.
The Director General of NAPTIN made the announcement in Abuja during a one-day Stakeholders Engagement Workshop themed “Building Bridges: Research, Internship and Innovation for a Sustainable Nigerian Power Sector.” The event, held in collaboration with 5 Creators Ltd., brought together power sector leaders, academic institutions, and technical experts.
The NAPTIN boss said the partnership would provide young Nigerians with hands-on skills to install electricity meters, contributing to job creation and bridging the metering gap, currently estimated at around seven million units. He confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with PMI, and the training will soon commence across all six geopolitical zones to ensure nationwide participation.
He identified job creation, research and development, and stronger industry-academic linkages as the three core areas of focus during the workshop. Emphasising the mismatch between available jobs and the skills of graduates, he called for stronger collaboration with universities to promote research-driven solutions to the challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.
On internship and industry linkage, he stressed the importance of connecting training institutions with practical industry needs, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in areas like solar PV installation, electrical works, and meter deployment.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), who also spoke at the event, echoed concerns about a growing talent gap due to an ageing workforce and inadequate technical training. He warned that without a skilled workforce, the country risks failing to maximise its infrastructure investments.
Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, represented by the Director of Distribution, commended NAPTIN’s initiative. He noted that many of Nigeria’s experienced power engineers are retiring, stressing the urgent need for a fresh generation of technically skilled professionals.
He also urged stakeholders to make full use of NAPTIN’s training curriculum, developed in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to train and deploy maintenance personnel across the country.
The workshop reinforced the need for sustained collaboration among government agencies, academia, and industry to build a more sustainable and inclusive Nigerian power sector.
