aefunai 7th & 8th combined convocation lecture: renowned expert proffers solutions to challenges of power supply in nigeria
A world-renowned expert in the field electricity and a strategic player in the power sector in Nigeria, Professor Barth Nnaji, has identified and proffered workable solutions to the intractable challenges bedeviling the Nigerian power sector.
The former Minister of Power and currently, the Chairman/CEO, Geometric Power Group, made the revelations at the 7th and 8th combined convocation lecture of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, with the theme, *‘’Challenges and Opportunities to Improving Power Availability in Nigeria’’*

The event which took place on Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024, at the Abubakar Adamu Rasheed Auditorium of the University, brought together experts, invited guests, faculty members and graduating students, in their commitment to fostering academic excellence and nation-building.
Professor Nnaji offered valuable perspectives on the obstacles facing the nation and the opportunities to overcoming them, adding that regular and adequate power supply is the hallmark of a developed economy.
He emphasized the need for Nigeria to generate and effectively transmit and distribute at least 100,000MW of power to become a middle-income economy, stressing that any nation whose energy is epileptic in supply, prolongs development and risks losing potential investors.

Speaking further the Geometric helmsman mentioned policy inconsistencies and policy summersaults as the major hindrances to effective implementation of power projects and major cause of epileptic power supply in Nigeria, and called for innovative solutions to address the problems.
He highlighted the Aba Integrated Power Project as a successful example of private sector-driven power development and called for a state of emergency in the gas sector to address the acute gas shortages, stressing that if the acute gas shortages were not adequately addressed with the required sincerity of purpose by stakeholders, the country would face more severe power shortages.
Concluding, Professor Nnaji encouraged the graduating students to embrace entrepreneurship and create values in their chosen fields. He challenged them to resist mediocrity and become assets to society, contributing to Nigeria's industrial economy as well as be part of a movement that will drop the country from the list of most corrupt nations in the world.

While making his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunday Elom, stated that as a University, “we recognize the importance of engaging with pressing national issues and contributing to the search for solutions, noting that the choice of the theme "Challenges and Opportunities to Improving Power Availability in Nigeria” was a bold testament of our commitment to academic excellence, corporate social responsibility and nation-building”.
He maintained that access to reliable and sustainable power was a fundamental driver of economic growth and development, and called for collective engagements to explore ways to address the power challenges facing our nation as well as work assiduously towards a brighter future for all Nigerians.
Professor Elom further expressed his gratitude to Prof. Nnaji for accepting the invitation to deliver the lecture, while extolling the Chancellor of the University, HRM (Dr) Michael Aremu Gbadebo, CFR, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, and the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Jesse Uneke, as well as other dignitaries for their presence, adding that the event would provide an opportunity for learning, reflection, and contribution to the advancement of Nigeria.

Earlier in his opening speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Jesse Uneke, appreciated Prof. Bart Nnaji for being the convocation lecturer at the AE-FUNAI 7th and 8th combined convocation ceremony, noting that the theme of the lecture was apt and timely as it will throw up the challenges and ways to improving the power sector in Nigeria.
He added that power was a major factor in sustainable economic development, even in the running of a university and decried the use of diesel in the running of the daily activities of most universities in Nigeria.
He therefore, urged the audience to pay attention to the renowned expert as he delivers his lecture and proffers solutions to the challenges of power availability in the country.