Engr. Funso Adebayo says electricity safety is paramount cos electricity kills more any disease in Nigeria at the ongoing NIEEE Conference.

By Gideon Tobiloba


It was a time of knowledge impartation and professional submission at the ongoing 15th Annual International Conference and Exhibition on Power and Telecommunications organized by The Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers {NIEEE}. This yearly event has become a convention where innovative ideas that can move a nation forward is shared.
The Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers {NIEEE} is a professional institution that seeks to promote professional competence and excellence among members through innovative contributions and development of sustainable solutions to challenging engineering problems by deploying efficient technologies.

This is the focal point of this year’s conference with the theme: Managing Power and Communications in a Digital Economy. The National Chairman of NIEEE Engr Funso Adebayo FNIEEE started with a proposed bill to the National Assembly to be sponsored by the CBN to power the unserved areas in Nigeria and West Africa afterwards. He said a round table meeting was held with all stakeholders in the power sector to discuss electricity safety to the unserved locations in Nigeria. He believes the settlers in these unserved areas need proper education on electricity safety because electricity kills more than disease now in Nigeria.


The Deputy President Nigerian Society Engineers Engr. Babagana Mohammed FNSE representing the President, Engr. Adekunle Mokuolu FNSE who was unavoidably absent  commended the effort of the division for contributing immensely to the growth and advancement of the umbrella society and Nigeria as a whole over the years. He further buttressed that the government is beginning to take NSE serious and the engineering related ministries and agencies are beginning to talk to NSE in the execution of its projects. This, he said is a good sign that good days are ahead for the society and Nigeria as a whole.

The chairman CEO of Ibom Power was also in attendance and blessed the attendees with his keynote address where he opined that a state of emergency should be declared in the power sector because the statistics show that what is being generated cannot serve a population as large as that of Nigeria. He also said vandalization of gas pipelines and cost of transporting the gas to the North and the rest of the country  is a devastating factor that is preventing the growth of the sector.


Lots of revelations, innovations and productive thinking was displayed during the technical sections where lots of questions were raised as to the way forward in ensuring Nigeria attains electricity for all in the nearest future most especially now that Nigeria is striving hard to join the rest of the world in going digital socially and economically. They stressed constant power supply will be a key determinant in achieving a total digital economy hence, the need for a conference like this.

The conference is far from being completed but the effect already is being felt by the city of Uyo of Akwa Ibom State and there is hope that this positive ripples will spread to other parts of the country before it comes to an end and even after.