By Tony Adibe
The Managing Director of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Engr. Vincent Ekwekwu has called for the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)’s support in training EEDC staff to broaden their exposure and encourage more internal engineers to register as official NSE members.
Ekwekwu reaffirmed EEDC’s commitment to partnering with NSE on future programmes and activities, stressing that capacity building and tech-innovation of staff would boost productivity. He spoke on Wednesday when he received the newly elected Executive Committee of the NSE at the company’s corporate headquarters at Power House, Okpara Avenue, Enugu.
The purpose of the visit was to formally introduce the branch’s new leadership, deepen existing institutional relationships, and map out strategic areas of cooperation, our correspondent learnt.
NewsBits reports that the NSE executive delegation was led by the NSE Enugu Branch Chairman, Engr. Loveday Osondu. Ekwekwu congratulated the newly elected executive committee and commended their passion for driving the engineering profession in the state.
The EEDC boss emphasised the critical responsibility resting on the executive leadership, particularly in building human capacity and ensuring that only certified and qualified professionals practice within the engineering space. Ekwekwu highlighted the need to leverage technology to optimise operational processes, improve revenue generation, and ensure long-term sustainability.
According to him, “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.”
Ekwekwu also briefed the delegation on recent developments within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). He detailed EEDC’s evolution and the emergence of state-focused subsidiary distribution companies across the South-East zone following regulatory sector reforms.
Also in his remarks, EEDC’s Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Pauli Isiguzo, assured the NSE of the company’s support in identifying potential members within EEDC. Isiguzo noted that full integration would foster idea-sharing, regulatory compliance, and professional accountability. He urged the NSE leadership to design tailored training modules centered on peculiar operational realities.
“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.
In his address, Osondu noted that the visit was vital to his administration’s goal of strengthening ties with key institutions, government agencies, and corporate stakeholders that drive engineering and social development. He acknowledged EEDC’s pivotal role in powering the socio-economic framework of the South-East.
“Electricity remains fundamental to industrialization, commerce, healthcare, education, and modern life. As engineers, we recognize the vital importance of a functional, reliable, and sustainable power distribution system,” he said.
Osondu noted the NSE’s readiness to collaborate with EEDC in technical knowledge sharing, engineering safety, infrastructure development, public enlightenment, and capacity building.
Members of the EEDC Management Team present included Chief Information Officer, Okechukwu Idika; Group Head, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE), Dr. Francis Iwu; Project Manager, DISREP, Engr. Fatai Olanipekun; Group Head, Human Resources, Nkiru Chukwuma; Group Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh; Head, Metering, Engr. Nath Oseremen, Head, ICT, Engr. Yekini Jibrin, and Head, System Control, Engr. John Okoye.
The NSE Executive Council Members who were part of the delegations were: Ex-Officio, Ozo Engr. Geoffrey Ozor; Publicity Secretary, Ozo Engr. Adibe Obinna; Financial Secretary, Engr. Chijioke Onyike; Engr. Millitus Okoye, and Engr. Clara Anyanwu.
