The Nigerian government and stakeholders in power sector have been urged to tap into women capabilities to address challenges of power sector, Isqil Najim reports.
A three times Vice president of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr Valerie Ifueko Agberagba made this call while speaking on the topic: “Lighting Up the Power Sector: it is time to tap into women problem solving capacity Women Engineers as an Imperative to a Successful Power Sector in Nigeria.” at the 6th O.T Otis Anyaeji Distinguished Lecture Organized by Nigerian Society of Engineers Maitama Branch On the 20th November 2020.
Agberagba, who was also a former Vice President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and Chair of Women in Engineering, called for more utilization of women who have expertise in the power sector
While tracing the history of power evolution in Nigerian and progresses through the years, Agberagba expressed concern that the “power sector in Nigeria in the past few years have struggled to change its negative public perceptions despite all the efforts so far.”
With more than half of the population living without electric power supply, Nigeria is reportedly going to need the connection rate between 500,000 to 800,000 households annually to achieve power to all by 2030.
Since the enactment of the Power Reform Act in 2005, which granted private companies opportunities to participate in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, the Nigerian power sector has witnessed many transitions. There has been partial privatization of the sector between 2011 and 2013. The PHCN was broken into eighteen new companies, including six generating companies (GENCOs), eleven distribution companies (DISCOs), and one transmission company (TRANSCO). The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission was also established.
She pointed out that while a lot of efforts have gone into trying to light up Nigeria by improving generation capacity to at least 7000MW. the sector has been bedeviled by a lot of challenges from operational capacity to revenue collection and the attendant finger pointing, blame game and the several inefficiencies in the market.
She made a case for the inclusion of more professional women to complement the efforts to address the many challenges facing the sector
She recalled the partnership with Siemens for the Presidential Power Initiative, PPI to actualize the Nigeria’s power sector reform. She pointed out that this partnership is not only to deliver power but will also provide jobs to many Nigerians and boost the economic growth with great commitment from investors.
“The male dominated power sector needs to rethink and bring in the pool of talented, capable, hardworking, problem solving women to the table” -Valerie Agberagba
Women Engineers Imperative to a Successful Power Sector in Nigeria
Speaking Further, She maintained that there is need to rethink gender balance and tap into benefits derivable from diversity in Power sector.
In her word, “I strongly believe there is no better time to consider a more gender balanced workforce and leadership in the sector. The all so male dominated power sector needs to rethink and bring in the pool of talented, capable, hardworking, problem solving women to the table.”
She observed that since the the privatization, and in the history of NEPA, there has only been one female Executive Director. She added that power sector boardroom currently comprises of 17% female Representation and urged the stakeholders in the industry to tap into the problem solving abilities of women professionals.
According to her, “Women have different ways of analyzing and taking risks, addressing issues, ruminating on the issues before taking decisions. There is no better time than now to consider a more gender balanced workforce and leadership in the sector.”
Renewable Energy gender gap
Despite the growing list of women in Renewable Energy, Engr Agberagba said there is still a huge gap to be filled and urge more women engineers in the power sector to venture into it as the task of Lighting up the power sector needs Women Engineers in the space.
She used the opportunity to advise the upcoming young engineers to make deliberate efforts to get into the space, seek role models and mentors, and Make efforts to change the unconscious bias. She also said women should endeavour to support fellow women. Saying that collective efforts is what will get them there and challenged engineers to move from point of Obscurity to the point of relevance and success.