Premium Power Solutions will graduate the first cohort of its free Technician Academy on Oct. 6 in Lagos, part of a private-sector effort to close Nigeria’s chronic shortage of skilled technicians, undermining its energy sector.
Nigeria loses an estimated $26 billion annually to unreliable electricity, according to the World Bank, while manufacturers report power as one of their top five constraints to growth.
Yet the shortage of certified technicians remains largely overlooked, with fewer than one for every 1,000 households connected to the grid, industry data shows.
The 12-month program by Lagos-based Premium Power offers practical training in electrical and mechanical technology, protective gear, professional toolkits, and preparation for the Federal Ministry of Labour’s trade test, all at no cost to participants. The first class also includes female trainees, a step toward improving gender diversity in a male-dominated industry.
Ejiroghene Udu, Premium Power’s founder and chief executive officer, said the initiative is meant to create a pipeline of skilled workers who can immediately enter the market.
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“Energy at PPS means more than electricity; it’s about unlocking potential and dignity for our youth. This academy is our pledge to close the skills gap and empower a new wave of talent, especially young women, to shape Africa’s energy future,” Udu said.
“For me, this journey is deeply personal. Every young person trained here represents a life transformed and a step closer to bridging the technical skills gap in our country. I am especially proud of the women who have taken bold steps to break barriers and thrive in a space that has not always been welcoming to them.”
Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world, with about 43 percent under 15 years old, and unemployment among young people is more than double the national average.
Industry leaders say technical training could help absorb some of this demographic pressure while boosting the country’s ability to expand grid power and off-grid renewables.
By producing certified technicians, Premium Power is betting that its graduates will raise employability and help strengthen capacity in a sector critical to Africa’s fourth biggest economy.
The company sees the academy as both a corporate responsibility project and a strategic investment in sustaining long-term growth.
