2022 Nigeria Power Awards: Obasanjo, Emefiele, Kola Adesina others bag recognition award
By Gloria Akudoro, Abuja
As part of its efforts to recognise giant strides made in bridging the gap in power supply and boosting the economy, the Nigeria Power Sector has awarded individuals and industries for their remarkable and noticeable achievements made in the sector.
The 2022 inaugural edition of Nigeria Power Awards took place at International Conference Centre, Abuja during the week.
The NPS Awards is said to be an initiative to publicly recognise and honour both public and private sector organisations and individuals who have contributed to the growth, innovation and progress in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). This strategic initiative is to also showcase the progress made across the industry as to inspire more growth as well as change the narrative of the Nigerian power sector.
Speaking to journalists at the occasion, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Ikeja Electric Power Company, Folakemi Soetan, said the company has come that far because of hard work, dedication of staff to duties adding that one must be true to self in whatever he or she does.
Ikeja Electricity Company is an affiliate of Sahara Power Group, the largest privately owned vertically integrated utility group in Nigeria which operates the Egbin Power Plant (largest power generation station) and Ikeja Electricity Company .
While speaking on gender diversity in the workspace and admitting to the fact that men has been her biggest collaborator, the first female CEO in Energy Company in Nigeria, advised women to set themselves apart by exhibiting professionalism and extend the gesture of collaboration with men in order the achieve the gender inclusion being clamored for.
“It is all about having the value, right attitude and believing it is possible,” she added.
She further stated that Ikeja Electricity hopes to improve in every value chain and ensure that customers are metered and are willing to pay for services rendered.
She said, “The company is on a transformation journey, so much has been done. We are not there yet but we have been very deliberate to come up with initiatives that will help take us to where we will like to be.”
Aligning her views with that of the Executive Director, Sahara Group, Mr. Kola Adesina, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, she stated that the company will not relent until there is sufficient energy for consumption in Nigeria.
Ikeja Electric equally won this year’s Industry Awards on the “Most Gender Diversity Utility Company and Best Electricity Distribution Company” in Nigeria.
Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Engr. Ahmed Rufai Zakari who received the Leadership and Excellence Award in the Power Sector, expressed appreciation for having recognised what his team are doing under the present administration. He said the award aided to highlight positive things happening within the industry even though there has been a lot of misinformation and discouraging in the power sector.
The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Former Minister of Prof. Bartholomew Nnaji, said his company, Geometric Power Group has laboured in the trenches and believes it deserved the recognition. While stressing on the end-to-end delivery of power, states that its goal is to make sure there’s 24/7 reliable electricity in Nigeria.
Other industry nominees who spoke promised to do more in supporting the sector to achieve steady supply of electricity in the Nigeria.
Those who received awards were as follows, Minister of Power, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, who bagged the Trailblazer Award in the Power Sector; Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Engr. Ahmed Zakari – Leadership/Excellence Award in the Power Sector; the Executive Director, Sahara Group, Mr. Kola Adesina – Lifetime Achievements Award.
Others who bagged Lifetime Achievements Awards include: Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Governor Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Former Minister of Power/Founder Geometric Power Group, Prof. Bartholomew Nnaji. Also a Posthumous Award to Late Engr. Joseph Oyeyani Makoju.
On industry awards and nominees, the Best Independent Power P (Captive Generation) goes to Ossiomo IPP Edo State; Best Metering Company to Mojec International LTD; Transaction of the Year (Transmission) to Niger Delta Power Holding Company LTD; Best Electricity Distribution Company to Ikeja Electric; Mini Grid Developer of the Year to Haven hill Synergy.
Also, winner of Most Gender Diverse Utility Company goes to Ikeja Electricity Company , Bank/Financial Institution of the Year to Fidelity Bank PlC; Most Impactful International Agency to USAID/Power Africa; Best State Government in the Power Sector to Oyo State Government; Gas Supply Company of the Year to Axxela Limited; Transaction Company of the Year (Distribution) to Olaniwun Ajayi LP/KONEXA ECOF among others.
