Nigeria, France To Sign 50m Euros Loan Agreement For Training

The Director-General of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Mr. Reuben Okeke has disclosed that Nigeria and the government of France will in May sign a €50 million (N11.15 billion) loan for the development and upgrade of power training facilities in the country.

He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to sign the agreement for the deployment of the training loan on behalf of the country, while the President of France, Mr. François Hollande will sign for his country. He also explained that the loan would be deployed to upgrade the training jobs of NAPTIN in the country’s power sector.

Speaking in Abuja, Okeke said “By next month, the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of France will be signing a loan agreement to get NAPTIN completely transformed, up to a tune of €50m.”

According to him, the fund would support the institute in its NGSDP programme. He explained that the programme would provide the necessary solution to the manpower shortage in technical aspects of the country’s power sector.

”Mindful of the fact that the success of the recent power sector reform will in part depend on the availability of a qualified workforce to meet the needs of the industry and the corresponding need to structure its operations to reflect the needs of the private sector, NAPTIN is currently working with a leading international consulting outfit through funding support of the Agence Francaise de Developement (AFD) to develop a new strategic plan.”

“This plan does not only encompasses the training needs of the new private  entrants, but also their participation in the delivery process.”

Okeke noted that with the assistance of AFD, the institute would become a hub for power sector professional development particularly the West Coast of Africa and the continent.