EU commits over €200m to Nigeria’s power sector since 2008, targets 4,000MW renewable capacity by 2027 amid growing concerns over electricity industry skills shortages.
The Federal Government has raised concerns that ongoing power sector reforms could stall unless urgent measures are taken to bridge the widening skills gap across the electricity value chain. This warning came as the European Union announced new commitments to support renewable energy deployment and workforce development in Nigeria.
According to the EU, it has invested more than €200m in grants since 2008 to strengthen Nigeria’s power sector through policy reforms, capacity building, and market development. Under its current 2021–2027 programming cycle, the EU aims to help Nigeria add 4,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity, which is expected to supply cleaner electricity to about five million people by 2027.
These issues were highlighted on Thursday during a one-day stakeholder engagement organised by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Abuja. The event, themed “Building a Skilled and Sustainable Workforce for NESI Transformation,” brought together regulators, utilities, development partners, and industry experts to address manpower shortages slowing down implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, renewable expansion, metering rollout, and digitalisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
In his opening remarks, NAPTIN Director-General, Ahmed Nagode, said recent reforms would only succeed if supported by a competent and adaptable workforce.
He explained that while the Electricity Act 2023, the growing integration of renewable energy, and rising digitalisation were creating unprecedented opportunities, they also revealed deep vulnerabilities in the sector.
“The success of every technical upgrade, market restructuring, and modernisation hinges on one irreducible factor: a capable workforce,” he said. “Without this, infrastructure remains underutilised, investments underperform, and our aspiration for stable, affordable power will remain elusive.”
Nagode noted that despite major investments in infrastructure and policy changes, the industry continues to struggle with skills shortages, weak alignment between training output and sector needs, and limited collaboration among stakeholders.
He said the engagement was designed to strengthen NAPTIN’s curriculum, deepen industry dialogue, and highlight the institute’s renewed focus on priority areas such as renewable energy, digital grid management, advanced metering, safety standards, and emerging energy markets.
Speaking on behalf of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Godfrey Ogbemudia, Programme Manager for Energy and Circular Economy, reaffirmed the bloc’s long-standing partnership with Nigeria’s power sector. He said the EU’s latest renewable energy package valued at €100m, would accelerate clean energy access through innovative financing, technical assistance, and new infrastructure, with an emphasis on solar, wind, and small hydropower.
“The EU has been a trusted partner since 2008,” he said. “Our latest package is designed to expand renewable access and drive energy efficiency. We have supported policy reform and market development and helped create the environment that enabled private-sector-led mini-grid projects in Nigeria.”
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, the Director of Distribution, Baba Umar Mustapha, expressed concern over the persistent capacity deficit within power utilities, particularly the distribution companies. He said the weak training culture prior to the 2013 privatisation meant many DisCos inherited ageing, insufficiently trained personnel who were not prepared to operate modern infrastructure or digital systems.
He disclosed that the ministry is targeting the annual training of 1,500 engineers and technicians, but inadequate funding and low private sector involvement continue to hinder progress.
Nigeria’s power sector is currently undergoing one of its most far-reaching transformations in a decade following the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the market and empowered states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity. Alongside this shift, the sector is experiencing rapid growth in off-grid solar, accelerating metering deployment, increased renewable integration, new state electricity markets, digital migration in grid management, and rising demand for advanced technical skills.
However, stakeholders at the event unanimously agreed that these reforms cannot achieve their objectives without a well-trained workforce capable of designing, operating, and maintaining the infrastructure required for a modern electricity market.
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