The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria currently lacks half of the skilled workforce necessary to efficiently operate the country’s power sector, particularly within the burgeoning renewable energy industry.

The Director-General of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, Ahmed Nagode, made this disclosure during the official launch of the Next Gen RESCO Programme, organised by the Rural Electrification Ain collaboration with NAPTIN and Eco-Innovation Empowerment Initiatives.

A REA’s statement released on Sunday noted that Nagode emphasised the urgent need to bridge the skills gap among Nigerian youths to meet the evolving demands of the energy sector.

The event was themed, “Empowering Future Leaders in Renewable Energy.”

“This tripartite collaboration is carefully structured to identify, train, and empower youths with the requisite skills to thrive in the renewable energy sector,” he said.

Nagode highlighted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for job creation and economic growth, adding that Nigeria’s youthful population presents a unique opportunity to drive transformation in the sector.

He observed, “In Nigeria and many developing countries, the youth population is vast. However, white-collar jobs are shrinking like a pyramid the higher you go, the fewer they become.

“This programme addresses that gap by promoting skills acquisition to develop a vibrant, efficient, and effective renewable energy workforce, a sector still largely under-penetrated.”

Nagode pointed out that although Nigeria produces many graduates, most lack the practical skills required to function effectively in the industry.

“There is a difference between academic qualifications and the skills needed to operate the power network. That is the void NAPTIN was created to fill, especially in the renewable energy space,” he explained.

He outlined four critical training areas: solar photovoltaic installation and maintenance, solar PV supervision, mini-grid design, and energy efficiency.

Nagode added that while NAPTIN serves as a centre of excellence within the West African Power Pool and the Association of Power Utilities of Africa, the institute prioritises technical competence over paper qualifications.

“Many graduates lack relevance to available jobs. In renewable energy, we have not even filled 50 per cent of the required human capital. This gathering is about ensuring we produce well-skilled youth to operate and maintain renewable infrastructure,” he said.

He also expressed concern about the sustainability of solar infrastructure currently being deployed nationwide.

“Even in Abuja, solar streetlights are everywhere. Without proper operation and maintenance, many will fail within four to five years. This underscores the urgent need to scale up skills training for young Nigerians,” he stated.