EEDC, NSE Partner On Capacity Building, Technology Innovation
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has promised to collaborate with the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) in the areas of capacity building and technological innovation.
Mr Vincent Ekwekwu, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EEDC made the promise when he played host to the new leaders of NSE, Enugu Branch at the company’s headquarters on Wednesday.
The newly elected Executive Committee is led by its chairman, Mr Osondu Loveday.
Ekwekwu who congratulated the new leadership commended their passion for driving the engineering profession in the state.
He said the NSE has the critical responsibility of building human capacity adding that only certified, qualified professionals practice within the engineering space.
He said there was a need to leverage technology to optimise operational processes, improve revenue generation, and ensure long-term sustainability.
“Many of our activities are still manually executed, and we want to rely on your wealth of experience to automate these processes.
“We want to see those experiences translate into tangible outcomes that reflect the success of our collaboration,” he stated.
The MD/CEO called for NSE’s support in training EEDC staff to broaden their exposure and encourage more internal engineers to register as officially as NSE members.
He reaffirmed EEDC’s commitment to partnering with NSE on future programs and activities.
Engr. Ekwekwu also briefed the delegation on recent developments within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
He gave details of EEDC’s evolution and the emergence of state-focused subsidiary distribution companies across the Southeast zone following regulatory sector reforms.
Also speaking, Mr Pauli Isiguzo, EEDC’s Group Chief Financial Officer, assured the NSE of the company’s support in identifying potential members within the company.
Isiguzo said full integration would foster idea-sharing, regulatory compliance, and professional accountability while urging NSE leadership to design tailored training modules centered on peculiar operational realities.
“There are specific challenges within our operating environment that require home-grown initiatives,” Isiguzo noted. “It is through local engineers like you that these customized solutions can be developed.”
Earlier in his address Loveday said that the visit was important to his administration’s goal of strengthening ties with key institutions, government agencies, and corporate stakeholders that drive engineering and social development.
The chairman acknowledged EEDC’s pivotal role in powering the socio-economic framework of the South-East.
“Electricity remains fundamental to industrialization, commerce, healthcare, education, and modern life.
“As engineers, we recognize the vital importance of a functional, reliable, and sustainable power distribution system,” Loveday remarked.
Loveday expressed the NSE’s readiness to collaborate with EEDC in technical knowledge sharing, engineering safety, infrastructure development, public enlightenment, and capacity building.
Members of EEDC Management Team present included Chief Information Officer, Okechukwu Idika; Group Head, Health, Safety & Environment, Dr Francis Iwu; Project Manager, DISREP, Mr Fatai Olanipekun; Group Head, Human Resources, Nkiru Chukwuma; Group Head, Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh; Head, Metering, Mr Nath Oseremen; Head, ICT, Mr Yekini Jibrin, and Head, System Control, Mr John Okoye.
