IDRIS AHMED, LOKOJA.
Late Engr Joseph Makoju’s efforts at ensuring Nigeria’s Power Sector reform during his lifetime has been hailed, urging the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sustain and improve on the feat.
Ambassador Godknows Igali, Chairman and Pro Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, who paid a glowing tribute to the late power Icon, noted that Nigeria can not move forward without an efficient power sector.
He advised the President elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to heed the clarion call inorder to pave way for the emergence of a robust power sector that would boost the nation’s economy.
The Career Diplomat gave the advise when he delivered a Memorial Lecture on Wednesday in honour of late Engr. Joseph Makoju at the Federal University Lokoja.
Ambassador Igali, who was the guest lecturer dwelt on “The Apogee of National Service and Vision for the Nigerian Power Sector: Reflection on the Life and times of Engr (Dr) Joseph Oyeyani Makoju.
While he posthumously commended the late Engr Makoju for the tremendous role he played in the reformation and development of the power sector in Nigeria, the reputed international academic, leveraged on his robust background as an engineer.
He, however, expressed worry that despite all the changes and reforms made in the energy sector over the years,Nigeria electricity supply industry remained “lethargic, wasteful,and unable to play its critical role in the development of the national economy.
“For a country that is greatly endowed with multiple sources, it is a sad reality that these changes have not been fully tapped. We also need to build more dams around the Benue River system,” he said.
While commending the present administration in the country for its efforts in reforming the power sector, the guest lecturer, however, stressed the need for the incoming governnent to work seriously towards ensuring a robust sector.
“Most foundamental is the overall supervisory and regulatory environment.In the new privatized environment, as in the rest of the world, Federal Ministry of Power is expected, under the regulation of Heads of State, to provide robust policy guidance and supervision in the sector,” he suggested.
Amb.Igali also called for the revival of the problem solving and decision-making platform as well as the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) for the nation to have the desired power sector.
Other areas, the guest lecturer wants the incoming administration to turn its search light on, to, are; the transmission backbone, distribution of power, funding and financial liquidity.
In his address of welcome, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, who described the lecture as a celebration of life and times of the late Engr. Makoju, commended his passion for power reforms in Nigeria.
” There is no doubt that the power sector has contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria.
“Engr.Joseph Makoju’s passion for power in Nigeria was second to none. No wonder,he dedicated his entire life to power generation and reformation in Nigeria,” he said.
The vice chancellor promised that the lecture, a project reflecting the partnership between the university and Joseph Oyeyani Makoju Foundation for Diplomat Extols Late Engr. Makoju’s Legacies in Fixing Nigeria’s Power Sector
