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By Damiete Braide
In a landmark achievement blending engineering innovation with national infrastructure resilience, Victor Eniola, an engineer has been recognized for his contribution to Nigeria’s water-energy nexus, following the successful deployment of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models and optimization algorithms at the Lower Usuma Dam, one of the most critical utility assets serving the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Constructed in 1990, the Lower Usuma Dam is located about 15 kilometers northwest of Abuja and supplies over 120 million cubic meters of raw water to five major water treatment plants ensuring 24/7 water availability for more than three million residents across Abuja. With a treatment capacity of 10,000 cubic meters per hour, maintaining the dam’s operational stability is of paramount importance to the capital’s sustainability and public health.
In 2021, Eniola serving as an Adjunct Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Abuja, led the development and integration of AI-powered forecasting models to predict solar photovoltaic (PV) energy production and optimize the dam’s power utilization system.
His ANN-based tools were uniquely customized for the Usuma Dam’s Power Optimization subsystems, making it possible to accurately forecast and balance solar energy supply for dam control operations.
Speaking on the significance of this achievement, Ibrahim Dauda, an engineer at Lower Usuma Dam said:
“Before the deployment of Victor Eniola’s ANN models, we experienced periodic energy mismatches that compromised system performance. His solution was a game-changer. By forecasting solar output with high precision, we are now able to operate our systems without interruptions, and this has ensured uninterrupted water supply 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even during low-sunlight periods. This is an outstanding contribution not just to the dam, but to national energy and water security.”
The project aligns with Nigeria’s push for smart infrastructure systems that improve efficiency while reducing dependency on fossil fuel-driven generators. Eniola’s models rooted in mathematical modeling, machine learning, and real-time optimization have since been recommended for adoption across other renewable-powered public utilities in the country.
With this accomplishment, Victor Eniola continues to distinguish himself as one of Nigeria’s leading minds in clean energy engineering and sustainable infrastructure design.
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