President Bola Tinubu has launched a new national programme, Power Force, aimed at training 5,000 young Nigerians to support the rollout of smart electricity meters across the country as part of ongoing reforms in the power sector.
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development under the Presidential Metering Initiative.
It is designed to close critical skills gaps in meter installation while creating employment opportunities for young people within Nigeria’s electricity value chain.
Officials said the programme is part of broader efforts by the administration to improve efficiency and financial stability in the power sector by expanding access to accurate metering.
The government believes this would help reduce estimated billing, improve transparency in electricity charges, and boost revenue collection.
The first phase of the training is scheduled to begin in Abuja in July before being extended to all six geopolitical zones.
Participants would undergo technical training through the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), while certification and compliance oversight would be handled by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
Successful trainees are expected to gain employment opportunities with distribution companies, meter providers, and other stakeholders in the sector.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the initiative as a major step linking job creation with improved electricity access across states.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the programme would help build a skilled workforce needed to strengthen the sector, while the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, stressed that it offers practical skills, certification, and a pathway to meaningful employment rather than handouts.
The Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative, Olu Verheijen, added that improved metering would restore trust in the electricity system by ensuring consumers are billed accurately for actual usage.
Applications for the first batch of trainees would open on July 4, 2026, and remain active for two weeks.
