A  One day courtesy visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Country Programme Officer and Representative for Nigeria, Mr. Mulugeta Amha, to the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) took place on the 3^rd of March, 2017.

The august visitor, who came in company of Dr. O. N. Ofodile and Mr Auwal Bisalla, all from NAEC were received by the Director General at about 3:30PM. The Director General then gave a brief on the mandate of the Commission.

In his remark, Country Rep said that the Nigerian Technical Cooperation Programme has not grown much because of the low level of funds available to execute the programmes; he however, added that more funding is expected from the IAEA. He further reiterated the purpose of his courtesy visit as follows;

• Design of the 2017-2018 Technical Cooperation (TC)  cycle
• Launching of the Country’s Programme Framework (CPF)
• Addressing major problems identified under specific ongoing projects and to propose corrective measures.

He stated amongst the achievements of the last TC cycle, the training of 14 Nigerians in Nuclear Medicine and Physics.

In attendance from the ECN were Dr. A. M. Umar Director Nuclear Science and Technology (NST); Dr. J.I. Dioha Director Renewable Energy (RE); Engr. J.S. Olayande Director Energy Planning and Analysis; Mr A.O. Aliyu Deputy Director Energy Information System; Mr Enebuse Kenneth (SSOI NST) and Ms Kwajaffa Hamsatu (STO NST).

Engr. Olayande, Director EPA highlighted some training programmes that two of ECN staff attended, and that the two had trained others on the same applications. He then stated that the Commission is now in the process of collecting data for energy projection, taking into account climate mitigation effects. He then sought to know when the AFRA West Africa regional office will be established and also pleaded that more ECN staff be involved in future training.

In addition, Dr Umar, Director NST wanted clarity on new partnership in project co-financing concept.

In his response, Mr. Amha stated that a number of issues come into play such as;

• Financial constraints to carry out every demand
• Selection criteria for candidate to participate in training is highly competitive
• Co-financing partnership can be through knowledge sharing, technical cooperation etc not necessarily monetary.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Amha thanked ECN for its efforts in conducting various studies in respect of energy planning in Nigeria. He said that, Nigeria is ahead on Energy Planning and that he sees Nigeria now not only as a beneficiary of the TC but also as a contributor.

The meeting came to an end at 4pm with the DG, ECN thanking the visitors and everyone who participated in the meeting.

L-R: Dr. J.I. Dioha (Director Renewable Energy), Engr. J.S. Olayande (Director Energy Planning & Analysis), Mr A.O. Aliyu (DD Energy Information System), Dr. A. M. Umar (Director Nuclear Science & Technology), Prof E.J Bala (DG/CEO ECN), Rep of the IAEA, Mr. Amha, Dr. O. N. Ofodile and Mr Auwal Bisalla.

 

© Hamsatu Kwajaffa (NST, ECN)