Capacity Building: ECN Train 1,000 Staffs For Workplace Efficiency.

The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has commenced a compulsory capacity-building programme for more than 1,000 members of staff, aimed at improving workplace efficiency, strengthening accountability and compliance, and enhancing the To Commission's delivery of critical energy policies and programmes.

The training, which brought together management, senior and other categories of staff from the Commission's headquarters and research centres, is part of efforts to build a more competent, efficient and results-driven workforce capable of advancing Nigeria's energy development agenda.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Abuja, the Director-General of ECN, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi said the initiative represented a significant milestone in the Commission's institutional development, as it was the first time all its staff were being assembled for a training programme of such magnitude.

He described the exercise as the fulfilment of a commitment made upon assuming office in October 2023, expressing satisfaction that the vision was becoming a reality.

According to him, the Commission's ability to discharge its statutory responsibilities, particularly in energy planning, policy coordination and the development of the nation's energy resources, depends largely on the competence and capacity of its workforce.

He said the training was designed to equip staff with the administrative, professional and technical knowledge required to deliver better results to Nigerians.

The Director-General expressed confidence that the exercise would translate into improved institutional performance, more effective energy policies and stronger implementation of government programmes, particularly those aimed at expanding access to electricity.

He specifically linked the capacity-building initiative to the Federal Government's renewable energy agenda, including the national solarisation programme, noting that a more competent workforce was essential to achieving the country's energy security objectives.

He said the Commission was determined to develop and implement policies and energy master plans that would support the administration's development priorities and improve access to reliable and affordable energy.

On the sustainability of the initiative, the Director-General explained that although the Commission had organised several training programmes for staff in the past, they were conducted in separate groups and on different occasions.

He said the current exercise was unique because it brought together more than 1,000 personnel across the Commission for a common capacity-building programme.

He disclosed that the management was considering making the exercise a regular institutional programme, possibly on a quarterly or twice-yearly basis, depending on available resources, time and planning.

He added that the Commission intended to sustain the initiative through periodic training and other professional development programmes.

The Director-General also acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, particularly in strengthening the Commission's financial capacity to execute its mandate.

He said the improved government support had placed greater responsibility on the Commission to deliver tangible results, adding that the ongoing reforms and institutional initiatives were part of its efforts to justify the confidence reposed in it by the Federal Government.

In a separate interview, the Director of Legal Services, Elama Abdulazeez, described the training as essential to equipping staff with a better understanding of the Commission's statutory responsibilities and the legal framework governing its operations.

He explained that participants would be sensitised to the provisions of the ECN's enabling law, stressing that staff must understand the Commission's mandate and their individual responsibilities to deliver on its obligations to the country.

Abdulazeez disclosed that the opening phase of the programme was designed as a two-day general training exercise, with subsequent specialised sessions planned for different professional and technical categories of staff.

He said the initial sessions would cover general administrative and operational areas, including finance, procurement, stores and general administration, while subsequent training modules would address specialised areas such as engineering and research.

According to him, the modules were structured to ensure that capacity development becomes a continuous process rather than a one-off intervention.

He added that the Director-General had already begun planning periodic follow-up training programmes to sustain the gains of the exercise and deepen staff competence.

On the Federal Government's solarisation programme, Abdulazeez explained that the initiative was designed to extend electricity access to institutions and facilities that require reliable power, particularly tertiary institutions and selected healthcare facilities across the country.

He said the programme would reduce the financial burden of electricity supply on beneficiary institutions, lower the cost of running their operations and potentially ease the cost of services provided to Nigerians.

He explained that by providing alternative solar power sources to selected public institutions, electricity previously consumed by such facilities could be freed up and made available to other areas experiencing inadequate power supply.

According to him, the initiative would therefore deliver multiple benefits, including improved electricity access, reduced operating costs for public institutions and better utilisation of available electricity resources.

He maintained that expanding access to electricity through different energy sources, including solar power, remained critical to addressing Nigeria's energy challenges.

The ECN training programme is expected to strengthen the Commission's institutional capacity and improve its ability to deliver on its mandate of coordinating national energy policies, planning and promoting the sustainable development of Nigeria's energy resources.