ABUJA – The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), on Thursday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Schneider Electric, a French firm, for the training of Nigerian electrical engineers.
The Director-General of NAPTIN, Mr Reuben Okeke, said the MoU would greatly boost the Institute’s drive to ensure adequate training for Nigerians in the power sector.
He said Schneider would train instructors who would in-turn train technicians involved in professional wiring of houses to avoid fire accidents.
The director-general said NAPTIN currently had over 600 engineers undergoing training, saying the collaboration was timely as it would produce the needed knowledgeable manpower to develop the sector.
Okeke said that the Institute was also partnering with University of Lagos, Bayero University, Kano, Federal University of Technology, Minna and University of Science and Technology, Owerri for post graduate training of engineers in the sector.
According to the MoU, Schneider Electric will be required to provide specialised training courses to NAPTIN trainers using its facility.
It is also expected to facilitate the delivery of practical training and deployment of consumables (cables and wires) and low/medium voltage power management systems.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr Godknows Igali, who supervised the signing of the MoU, said the deal was timely, considering the global position of Schneider as manufacturer of electricity equipment.
Igali said the partnership would further enhance the local content initiative of the Federal Government.
He added that some of the engineers would be trained in France as part of plan to give them international exposure.
The President of Schneider Electric, Mr Marcel Hochet, said “the agreement symbolises the company’s training commitment with both the Federal Government and stakeholders in the power sector.’’
Hochet said the agreement would significantly impact on the ability of government to deliver on its power sector reforms, raise technical skill for the power sector and create more jobs. (NAN)
