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Nigeria’s states can unlock new opportunities for private investment, competition and improved power supply under the Electricity Act 2023, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Jennifer Adighije, has said.
The NDPHC boss stated this while delivering the Distinguished Alumni Lecture organised by the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos (UNILAG) with the title “Optimising Electricity for Powering Nigeria’s New Socio-Economic Frontiers”,.
Adighije said the legislation, which empowers states to establish and regulate their own electricity markets, had created unprecedented opportunities for investment and innovation while paving the way for the emergence of vibrant sub-national electricity markets.
According to Adighije, the ongoing reforms in the power sector have opened a new era for the industry, with greater opportunities to expand access, attract investment and improve service delivery.
She described electricity as the “currency of development” in the global economy, stressing that countries with reliable and affordable power supply were better positioned to create jobs, attract investment and drive industrialisation.
She also linked dependable electricity to stronger healthcare and education systems and an improved quality of life for citizens.
Adighije said the Electricity Act 2023 was one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s power sector because of its provision granting states the authority to establish and regulate their electricity markets.
“The legislation has created unprecedented opportunities for investment, innovation, competition and improved service delivery while accelerating the emergence of vibrant sub-national electricity markets capable of attracting greater private-sector participation,” she said.
The NDPHC chief said the company was also repositioning itself to maximise the value of its assets by improving operational efficiency, strengthening corporate governance and fostering strategic partnerships.
She said the company remained committed to ensuring that investments in the power sector translated into tangible benefits for Nigerians, particularly through efficient asset management and infrastructure optimisation.
Adighije said optimising the country’s existing electricity infrastructure was critical to unlocking its socio-economic potential, noting that reliable power remained fundamental to industrialisation, investment and sustainable national development.
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Looking ahead, she said the next generation of engineers would have a critical role to play in transforming Nigeria’s power system through the deployment of smarter and cleaner technologies.
She identified artificial intelligence, automation, battery storage, smart metering and advanced power electronics as some of the technologies expected to shape the future of the electricity industry.
The NDPHC boss urged engineering students to embrace continuous learning and professional discipline, charging them to see engineering not merely as a profession but as a vocation for solving societal challenges and building infrastructure capable of supporting economic growth.
She said Nigeria’s electricity industry was entering a new phase driven by reform, innovation, collaboration and increased investment.
Adighije, who is an alumna of UNILAG, described her return to the institution as both an honour and a homecoming, expressing appreciation to the university for providing the academic foundation that shaped her career and leadership journey in the power sector.
In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, described the lecture as a celebration of excellence, collaboration and the enduring legacy of the institution.
Ogunsola commended Adighije as one of the university’s distinguished alumni, saying her professional accomplishments reflected UNILAG’s commitment to producing graduates with technical competence, integrity and visionary leadership.
She said rapid technological developments associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution had made stronger collaboration among academia, industry and government increasingly important.
“Through initiatives such as this, we create platforms where experience meets aspiration and where our students are inspired by those who have successfully translated knowledge into impactful service,” she said.
The lecture attracted academics, industry professionals, students and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s power sector, with discussions focusing on electricity sector reforms, technological innovation and the role of engineering in driving economic development.
