A career fair, Energize to identify skilled workers for the energy sector had ended in Abuja Tuesday.
Over 300 professionals and 25 companies participated in the fair which first leg held in Lagos.
The two legs were witnessed by additional 500 virtual participants.
The fair, the first of its kind, was organised by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations – Alliance (REEEA-A), the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) within the framework of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP).
The programme aimed at establishing an employability platform where professionals and RE/EE actors (potential employers which include Developers, Discos,
Development Cooperation etc.) can easily collaborate while boosting employment opportunities to bridge the skills gap in the sector.
During the fair Human resources advisory was provided by foremost consultants, Phillips Consulting Limited (PCL.) and West Africa Vocational Education (WAVE), is a social venture focused on screening, training, and placing local talents.
The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu represented by the Director, Renewable and Rural Power Access, Engr. Abubakar Ali-Dapshima said, “Given the need for vetted, competent manpower to drive the energy goals in the sector, the ministry is happy to reaffirm its commitment to support capacity development within the sector, through participation and support of this job fair initiative in the sector.”
The REEEA-A Steering Committee, represented by Aminu Isa, emphasised the shortage of manpower to support development projects in the sector.
“With an estimated need of over 30,000 jobs to drive energy innovations effectively and efficiently in the country, we need to do more to identify the best talents and support them to find opportunities best suited to their skillset. This is one of the core objectives of the Alliance,” he said.
In a goodwill message, the Head of Section, Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefaniwicz said: “In addition to supporting youth empowerment and job
creation in Nigeria, the EU is very active in supporting the unlocking of financing that will help to further strengthen investments in the RE and EE sector. This will be crucial in creating even more opportunities for
work and innovation in the sector,” she stated.
The Head of Programme, NESP, Duke Benjamin, represented by Olumide Fatoki, Head of Unit, Sustainable Energy Access NESP said: “In its second phase, NESP has intensified its efforts to scale
capacity development in the RE and EE sector.
The Energize! career fair adds to a growing list of training, certification schemes and skills-matching efforts which we have developed and implemented with the support of our partners and commissioning parties.”
The pilot scheme, which kicked off in Lagos last week, was conceived to connect professionals in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector with quality opportunities in the sector.
Over 300 professionals and 25 companies participated in both the Lagos and Abuja legs of the fair which also provided additional 500 virtual participants.
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