The Federal Government on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, inaugurated the Siemens Energy Education and Development (SEED) training facility in Abeokuta, Ogun State, with plans to train no fewer than 6,000 energy professionals to strengthen Nigeria’s power sector.
The initiative, launched under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), is aimed at boosting technical capacity and developing a skilled workforce to support ongoing reforms and infrastructure upgrades in the country’s electricity industry.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the Director of Human Resources Management at the Federal Ministry of Power, Samaila Nasiru, described the project as a major commitment to the future of Nigeria’s energy sector.
According to him, the Presidential Power Initiative is focused on modernising and expanding Nigeria’s power infrastructure, noting that investments in transmission and distribution alone would not solve the sector’s challenges without adequate human capacity development.
“While we are making critical investments in grid transmission and distribution capacity nationwide under Phase One, we recognise that infrastructure alone cannot solve our energy challenges,” he said.
Nasiru stated that the five-year SEED programme would equip 6,000 energy professionals with the technical expertise needed to operate, maintain, and optimise modern power systems across the country.
He added that the programme would also provide participants with internationally recognised certifications through partnerships with regulatory agencies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency.
Also speaking at the event held on Tuesday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the FGN Power Company, Kenny Anuwe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in human capital development and a key part of efforts to transform Nigeria’s power sector.
He said sustainable growth in the industry depends on skilled professionals capable of managing and improving transmission and distribution networks nationwide.
“Today’s event is not only about the launch of a training initiative. It is about investing in people and building the technical capacity required to sustain Nigeria’s energy transformation for generations to come,” Anuwe said.
He explained that the programme would be implemented across several training centres in partnership with institutions such as COREN, NEMSA, and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
Anuwe noted that the initiative would enhance local content development, create employment opportunities, and position Nigeria as a regional hub for technical excellence in the energy sector.
He also commended development partners, including the European Union, the German Government, Siemens Energy, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit for supporting Nigeria’s power sector reforms.
The Managing Director of Siemens Energy Nigeria, Sheu Suleman, said the SEED initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the power sector under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Suleman stated that the programme would address technical gaps in the sector while promoting technology transfer and workforce development.
He disclosed that training would take place in multiple locations, including Abeokuta, Offa, Ibadan, Ayede, Birnin Kebbi, and Sokoto, with additional centres expected to be developed in partnership with the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the Country Director of GIZ Nigeria, Markus Wagner, said the initiative supports Nigeria’s ongoing power sector reform agenda and would help integrate globally approved standards and quality assurance measures into energy training programmes.
