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By Vivian Onyebukwa
Hope for Nigeria’s power sector, as notable professional engineers gathered at the 10th anniversary memorial in honour of late Engr Foluseke Abidemi Somolu to honour him.
In addition to honouring the late engineering guru, some of them also proffered solutions to the country’s power problems.
Late Somolu served as Chairman, Technical Board Generation Sub Committee during the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He was later appointed as Senior Special Assistant on Power Sector Reform also by Chief Obsanjo and served both Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua. In this same period, (2005-2008) he also served as the Coordinator of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).
Engr Foluseke Abidemi Somolu, a four decade veteran of the Nigerian electric power industry, and a former President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (2002-2003), was an accomplished member of the Nigerian engineering community, a tireless advocate on behalf of engineering professionals and a promoter of the application of technology and engineering knowledge in society at large.
Keynote guest lecturer, Engr Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari Wudil, in his lecture titled, “The Nigerian Power Deregulation: History, Successes and Failures-The Way Forward”, stated that the solution to the lingering problem of electricity in Nigeria is multi-faceted. Engr Gidari Wudil who is also the Immediate Past President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, noted that there should be political will by all government to keep in their mind that they are ready to reform the sector, otherwise lip service cannot solve the power sector problem. “Words must be matched with action so that when you say you are going to reform, you are duly reforming. When you set up a law, obey the law. When you establish a regulatory, you have to either obey or be independent. Independence is a sense that is welcome and is allowed to do their rules. So if there is any political intervention while the regulator is working, definitely the sector will not work”.
He noted that renewable energy can help to move the country forward, but not in totality. “It is good. It is what is called green energy, but on light scale it is not enough to move the economy. It can solve some of our residential problems, supplies but factories, that is the manufacturing, need on-grid generations. In-grid generations if care is not taken, will not work if all the residential and small scale businesses are on off grid solution. So off grid solution is good, but you have to make concerted effort”, Engr Wudil said.
Engr (Dr) Olatokunbo Somolu, wife of the late Foluseke Abidemi Somolu, and Chairperson of the Foluseke Abidemi Foundation, while speaking, described the occasion as a remarkable one. “As a matter of fact, today is exactly 10 years he was buried. He died on the 24th of September 2025. It is a unique day, and for me, it’s quite a memorable one. The beauty of it is that he lived and died working for the power sector. You rarely find someone working in an organisation and retiring in that same organisation, but the organisation changed name from Niger Dams Authority, to ECN, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), to National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), and he was there. Even after he retired, he was still been sorted. He was a rare kind of person and I am glad that his associates have made sure that the book which he started to write are able to be presented today”.
It was a three in one event comprising of the book launch, anniversary memorial lecture, and presentation of awards, which took place at the the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos (UNILAG).
Reviewing the book titled, “Managing Electricity Demand And Supply In Nigeria For Optimum Benefit” the reviewer, Prof Frank Okafor of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, UNILAG noted that 70 percent of the book was written by the late Engr Foluseke Abidemi Somolu. He added that most part of the book was over 10 years ago before his passing away, but the topic still remains as relevant as they were then. He described the book as timing addressing the knowledge gap partly created by 2023 electronic act.
Prof Frank Okafor explained that the book is in four parts. “The first part is about managing electricity from your home to corporate consumption. It is a book written in such a way that even a primary school pupil will find it very useful because they will understand the way it is written. It is able to explain certain events in the distribution network which have strongly been misinterpreted even by the current district managers”.
The second part he said, is the transformers. “Backed by a thesis on transformers that he presented is a very elucidating compendium of what happened. While the third part is about his words in the Nigerian power system sector. He talked about the philosophy of the protective arrangement of NEPA up till today”.
The final part has to do with the cutting edge of technology in power system of the nation.
The public presentation was made by the Chief Presenter, Engr Kunle Ogunbayo.
The Chairman of the occasion, Engr Lanre Sagaya, Past President of Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria (ACEN) and Zanna of Ilorin, in narrating the story of Engr Somolu since they were young, described him as a brilliant Engr. “He took power engineering to the highest level. He was a phenomena in the power sector. A thorough breed professionals. A good friend of mine”.
The first female President of Nigeria Society of Engineers, Engr Margaret Aina Oguntala who was also at the event, described Engr Foluseke as an epitome of goodness and professionalism. “On top of all that, he was also a gentle man, cool, calm, collected, and practiced engineering to the utmost with excellence, and with serious regard to professional ethics. He is one of our heroes and we have to come here to honour him”.
The event also witnessed a brief overview of the scholarship programme and formal announcement of 2025 scholarship by Foundation Board Trustee, Mr Seke Somolu Jr.
Formal announcement of 2024/2025 Best Paper Awards, was made by Hon. Secretary, Engr Emmanuel Akinwole.
The Foluseke Abidemi Somolu Foundation is envisioned as a way of ensuring that that the goals for which the late Engr worked so relentless throughout his life, will be achieved and surpassed. Specifically, the foundation has the following objectives which include, to support the education, teaching and research in the Nigerian electrical and power engineering sectors (Generation, transmission, and distribution) sectors. It is also established to promote and celebrate excellent in power engineering professional practice), and to promote the adoption and advancement of technology in Nigeria.
Furthermore, it is to support upcoming generations of engineering students and aspiring power engineers to distinguish themselves in theory and in practice, and to promote leadership and entrepreneurship in the Nigerian power engineering sector.
He aims to achieve goals by using a divers range of programs and media including, but not limited to prizes to electrical engineering undergraduate and post-graduate students. It also gives award of excellence to practicing electrical power engineers in the public and private sectors, research grants for doctoral students, sponsorship of electrical engineering publications, seminars and standard developments, etc.
Finally, it is established to host annual symposia and workshops.
