Obasanjo, Emefiele, Barth Nnaji nominated for 2022 Nigeria Power Sector awards

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Godwin Emefiele, governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Barth Nnaji, former minister of power and founder, Geometric Power Limited/Aba Power IPP, are among personalities nominated for the 2022 Nigeria Power Sector awards.

The event, organised by NPS Awards Limited, is instituted to celebrate organisations and individuals who have contributed to improvements, growth, innovation, and progress in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

NPS Awards said this in a statement issued on Thursday.

The organiser disclosed that the inaugural edition would take place on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC).

Nasir El-Rufai, executive governor of Kaduna, will deliver the keynote address on “The Future of the Nigerian Power Sector: Delivering a Reliable and Stable Power Sector for All Nigerians”.

According to the statement, the awards will recognise and celebrate a few individuals for their immense contributions and achievements to the power sector, including a posthumous award to the late Joseph Oyeyani Makoju, former chief executive officer of the defunct National Electric Power Authority, NEPA, and special advisers on power to three presidents; leadership and excellence Award to Ahmad Zakari, special adviser to the president on infrastructure, and trailblazer award in the power sector will be presented to Abubakar Aliyu, minister of power.

Kola Adesina, executive director, Sahara Energy Group, will join Obasanjo, Emefiele and Nnaji to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards.

“The nominees for Thermal Power Generation Company of the Year, include, NAOC Okpai IPP, Azura Power West Africa, and Transcorp Power (Ughelli Power Station) while the Hydroelectric Power Generation Company of the Year, has North South Power Company Limited (Kainji), Mainstream Energy Limited (Jebba), North-South Power Limited (Shiroro) and MABON Dadin-Kowa Hydro Dam as nominees,” the statement reads.

“The Electricity Distribution Company of the Year category, has Ikeja Electric, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, as nominees; while the Most Gender Diverse Utility Company category, has Kaduna Electric, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, and Ikeja Electric as nominees.

“The Most Innovative FINTECH Company category has PayAfrik World Connect Limited, BuyPower, Flutterwave, Crown Interactive Limited, and ITEX Integrated Services Ltd, as nominees, while the Metering Company of the Year category has MOJEC International Limited, Protogy Global Services Ltd, Switch Electric Ltd, Sabrud Consortium Nigeria Limited and Conlog Meter Solutions Nigeria as nominees.

“The transaction of the year (Renewable Energy/ Off-grid) category has GVE Projects Ltd – Wuse Market Project, Crossboundary / Engie, Nayo Tropical Technology Ltd/ARM-Harith, Rural Electrification Agency/Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) and Olaniwun Ajayi / Chapel Hill NIDF as nominees, while the Transaction of the year (Generation) category, has Olaniwun Ajayi LP/Transcorp Plc — 726MW Afam GenCo Acquisition, Geregu Power Plc Share Listing on the NGX and Geometric Aba Power IPP Financing as nominees.

“The transaction/project of the year (Transmission) category has Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd — Lafia Transmission Sub-station Project, Olaniwun Ajayi LP / FGN Power Company Ltd – Implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative Phase 1, Transmission Company of Nigeria — Abuja Ring Project and Eko DisCo / NESI-SS Limited — transmission interface upgrade project as nominees while the Transaction of the year (Distribution) category, has Olaniwun Ajayi LP / KONEXA ECOF, Geometric Aba Power Distribution Limited and Ikeja Electric — Premium Power Project as nominees.

“The Mini-Grid Project Developer of the Year category has Nayo Tropical Technology, GVE Projects Limited, ENGIE Energy Access, Havenhill Synergy, and Wedotebary Nigeria Limited while C & I Developer of the Year category has Daystar Power Energy Solutions, CrossBoundary Energy, Auxano Solar and Rensource Energy as nominees while the public sector organisation of the year category has Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Transmission Company of Nigeria, Bureau of Public Enterprises and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency as nominees.

“The development finance institution of the year category has the Bank of Industry, InfraCredit, Development Bank of Nigeria, and Africa Finance Corporation as nominees while the Best State Government in the Power Sector category has the Oyo state government, Kaduna state government, Lagos state government, Akwa Ibom state government, and Edo state government as nominees.

“Also, the Gas Supply Company of the Year category has Axxela Limited, Seplat Plc, Shell Nigeria Gas, Accugas/Savannah Energy, and Nigerian Gas Marketing Company as nominees while the Independent Power Producer (Captive) category has the Axxela Limited, Genesis Energy Limited, Viathan Engineering Limited and Ossiomo IPP Edo state as nominees.

“Finally, the bank/financial institution of the year category has Sterling Bank, First Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Providus Bank, and United Bank for Africa as nominees while the most impactful international development agency category has USAID/Power Africa, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), UK Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNAIF) and SEforAll as nominees.”