Sahara Power Launches Ten-Month Training Programme for Nigerian Engineers
In a bold move to bolster Nigeria’s power sector, Sahara Power Group has announced the inauguration of its flagship Sahara Power Technical and Innovation Academy (SPTIA). This pioneering initiative aims to equip young Nigerian engineers with the vital technical skills and practical experience necessary to propel sustainable power generation across the nation.
The programme, delivered in partnership with Egbin Power and First Independent Power Limited (FIPL)—two of Nigeria’s foremost power generation companies and members of Sahara Power Group—seeks to cultivate a new cadre of industry-ready engineers.
Fifty graduate engineers have been admitted into a comprehensive ten-month training scheme that blends intensive classroom instruction with hands-on, real-world experience at critical generation assets. Trainees will gain exposure to plant operations, maintenance protocols, and industry best practices, positioning them for impactful careers within Nigeria’s evolving power sector.
A core component of the programme emphasises safety. The trainees will undertake mandatory safety modules covering industry standards and safe work practices, complemented by practical, scenario-based sessions. This focus aims to foster a safety-first culture, ensuring participants operate confidently and responsibly beyond mere compliance within plant environments.
Upon completing the programme, the highest performing trainees will be deployed across Sahara Power Group’s various businesses, including Egbin Power, FIPL, and upstream operations. Others will transition into the broader Nigerian electricity labour market, reflecting the Group’s commitment to enhancing sector-wide capacity.
Kola Adesina, Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, expressed his enthusiasm about the initiative: “The Academy represents a deliberate investment in Nigeria’s future and a strategic response to the sector’s talent needs. We are committed to powering Nigeria not just through infrastructure, but through people. This Academy reflects our belief that the future of sustainable energy delivery must be driven by skilled, young professionals who understand the local operating environment.”
He further highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating, “Egbin Power and FIPL provide the ideal platforms for this initiative, given their track record of operational excellence and technical depth. By leveraging these assets, we are creating a pipeline of engineers who are not only technically sound but also industry-ready from the outset.”
Adesina urged the trainees to work collaboratively and develop problem-solving skills that will contribute to human development and sector progress. “We are here to truly and responsibly make a difference. We are here to look around our environment, and we are curious enough to see how we can make things better. We believe you are to make things better and add value to the sector,” he said.
Beyond internal capacity-building, the Sahara Power Technical and Innovation Academy underscores the Group’s broader corporate social responsibility efforts. By nurturing trained engineers, Sahara Power is actively contributing to the long-term resilience and sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity industry.
This initiative exemplifies Sahara Power Group’s vision to deliver reliable, sustainable energy through a combination of infrastructural investment and human capital development—ensuring Nigeria’s energy future is powered by innovation and indigenous expertise.