The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) have partnered on capacity building and technology innovation.
The partnership aims to improve staff productivity, automate operational processes and develop locally tailored solutions to challenges in electricity distribution.
EEDC Managing Director, Chief Vincent Ekwekwu, disclosed this on Wednesday when he received the newly elected NSE Executive Committee in Enugu.
The NSE delegation was led by its Enugu Branch Chairman, Mr Loveday Osondu.
Ekwekwu congratulated the new executive and commended its commitment to advancing the engineering profession and strengthening professional standards in the state.
He stressed the importance of building human capacity and ensuring that only certified and qualified professionals practise engineering.
The EEDC managing director also called for greater use of technology to optimise operations, improve revenue generation and ensure long-term sustainability.
“Many of our activities are still manually executed, and we want to rely on your wealth of experience to automate these processes.
“We want to see those experiences translate into tangible outcomes that reflect the success of our collaboration,” he said.
Ekwekwu called for NSE support in training EEDC staff, broadening their professional exposure and encouraging more engineers within the company to register with the society.
He reaffirmed EEDC’s commitment to collaborating with NSE on future programmes and activities.
Ekwekwu also briefed the delegation on recent developments within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
He explained EEDC’s evolution and the emergence of state-focused subsidiary distribution companies across the South-East following regulatory reforms in the sector.
EEDC Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr Pauli Isiguzo, assured NSE of the company’s support in identifying potential members among its workforce.
Isiguzo said full integration would promote idea-sharing, regulatory compliance and professional accountability within the company.
He urged NSE to develop tailored training modules addressing the specific operational realities of EEDC and the wider electricity distribution sector.
“There are specific challenges within our operating environment that require home-grown initiatives.
“It is through local engineers like you that these customised solutions can be developed,” he said.
Earlier, Osondu said the visit was part of his administration’s efforts to strengthen ties with institutions, government agencies and corporate stakeholders.
He said such partnerships were essential to advancing engineering and social development in the state.
Osondu acknowledged EEDC’s pivotal role in supporting the socio-economic development of the South-East.
“Electricity remains fundamental to industrialisation, commerce, healthcare, education and modern life.
“As engineers, we recognise the vital importance of a functional, reliable and sustainable power distribution system,” he said.
Osondu said NSE was ready to collaborate with EEDC on technical knowledge sharing, engineering safety and infrastructure development.
He added that the society would also support public enlightenment and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening the electricity distribution system.
