From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
Prof Charles Igwe, the Vice Chancellor of College of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) has referred to as on engineers within the nation to seek out options to unstable electrical energy provide within the nation.
Igwe made the calls in Nsukka on Friday through the nineteenth Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture (HMML) organised be the College of Engineering UNN, titled; “The Path to Secure Electrical energy in Nigeria: An Engineering Problem.”
He stated steady electrical energy provide performed important position within the growth and industrialisation of any nation.
In accordance with him, “Engineers within the nation ought to rise as much as discover options stopping the nation from reaching steady electrical energy provide that may increase the financial system and create extra employment alternatives.
“Collapse of the nationwide grid is not a brand new factor within the nation, therefore the theme of this lecture is apt giving the current scenario in nation the place epileptic energy provide is the order of the day.
“I’m optimistic that this gathering that brings engineers collectively from completely different walks of life will proffer options to epileptic energy provide that has affected the financial system of the nation,” he stated.
The VC who was represented by UNN’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Tutorial, Prof Johnson Urama
extolled the shining qualities and quite a few contributions of Macaulay to engineering occupation specifically and the nation on the whole.
Mr. James Agada, an Engineer and Managing Director, Ixzora Laboratories, an oil servicing firm who delivered the Keynote Tackle stated that the issues of steady electrical energy in Nigeria has to do with technical, political and financial challenges.
“Technical, political and financial are among the many challenges militating towards steady electrical energy in Nigeria.
“Nevertheless, these challenges characterize a chance for Nigerian engineers to machine options which are inexpensive sufficient to permit people and company our bodies to generate the facility they want.
“It is usually a chance for coverage makers to create an surroundings and construction the place such non-public era might be fed again to the general public grid,” he stated.
Talking on the theme of the lecture, Mr Eric Okeke, Managing Director Azura Energy WA Restricted, an influence producing firm, who can be alumni of the College stated Nigerians taught that privatization of PHCN in November 2003 would had solved the issues of unstable energy provide.
Okeke recognized insufficient era, transmission and distribution stay obstacles for Nigerians to take pleasure in steady electrical energy provide of their houses and workplaces.
“In November 2003, when Federal Authorities privatised Energy Holding Firm of Nigeria (PHCN), Nigerians taught the issue is over however many have being proved unsuitable.
“For a rustic like Nigeria that has inhabitants of over 150 million lower than 3000 Megga wats of electrical energy era is insufficient for the nation.
“To attain steady electrical energy provide which authorities is aware of the nation want no fewer than 20000 megga wats,” he stated.
He nonetheless stated poor non-public investments in energy sector had been attributed to concern of traders to recoup cash invested as electrical energy customers have been accused of being reluctant to pay for service tendered.
In his opening comment, Mr. Obioha Fubara, an engineer and Group Managing Director, Hobark Worldwide Restricted urged the viewers to try to change into better than Macaulay by not solely been the perfect in engineering, however to enterprise into politics as he additionally did to drive the management of sources of the nation to allow us meet the millennium growth targets.
“Engineers have to steer from the entrance and present the nation that their occupation is the one which drives nationwide growth in all aspects by direct method.
“There may be a variety of infrastructural hole within the nation, so allow us to be propelled by the constructive momentum of progress made by Macaulay and proceed to push onward till we attain our last objective,” he stated.
Prof Emeka Obe, Dean, College of Engineering in a comment stated that electrical energy stay the important thing driver of each trendy financial system.
In accordance with him, “electrical energy is the bottom of infrastructure on which practically each different infrastructure emanates from.
“Each Industrial course of requires electrical energy at practically all ranges of manufacturing proper from minimal of the uncooked supplies by processing all the way down to even consumption.
“The HMML offers us with the avenue to work together with distinguished professionals who’ve the love for our college and certainly our college at coronary heart,” he stated.
The Dean, nonetheless appealed for assist to allow the college to have a 1000 capability lecture theater, new and separate constructing for seven departments, amongst others.
Saturday Solar gathered that the nineteenth HMML got here barely one week the 18th version passed off, this the organiser stated was to make up for the misplaced 12 months throughout covid-19 pandemic.