Govt trains 5,000 youths for smart meter installations
July 3, 2026 12:00 am
President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday launched Power Force, a national initiative that will train 5,000 young Nigerians as smart electricity meter installers.
The Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative, Mrs Olu Verheijen, disclosed details of the initiative in a statement signed on Thursday titled, “President Tinubu Launches Power Force to Train 5,000 Young Nigerians, Accelerate Smart Meter Rollout.”
She said the initiative, which will open for applications on July 4, would also create employment opportunities across the power value chain and accelerate the rollout of metering infrastructure as part of ongoing power sector reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The programme, she noted, is being implemented through the Presidential Metering Initiative in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and is designed to close critical skills gaps in meter installation.
It will also equip participants with practical technical training, recognised certification and pathways to employment and entrepreneurship within the electricity distribution industry.
Verheijen said the initiative addressed both a technical and a trust deficit in the power sector simultaneously. “Metering restores trust. When customers pay only for what they use, revenues improve, investment follows, and service gets better. Power Force helps us scale that progress faster,” she said.
The first phase of the programme will commence in Abuja in July 2026, with subsequent rollouts across the six geopolitical zones. Participants will undergo intensive technical training delivered by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, while certification and compliance standards will be overseen by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency.
Successful trainees will be connected to deployment opportunities with distribution companies, meter providers, and other industry partners.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described Power Force as a federation initiative that tied opportunity directly to national impact.
“Power Force is a federation initiative that connects opportunity with impact, creating jobs for young Nigerians while strengthening electricity access in every state,” he said.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, framed the initiative as an investment in human capital as the foundation of a better-performing sector. “A stronger power sector begins with skilled people. Power Force invests in Nigerian talent to power our nation’s future,” he said.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the programme reflected the administration’s deliberate focus on creating practical economic pathways for young Nigerians rather than welfare transfers.
According to the minister, “Young Nigerians want opportunity, not handouts. Power Force gives them practical skills, recognised certification, and a direct pathway to meaningful work that supports national development.”
Verheijen said Power Force formed part of the administration’s broader effort to improve the financial sustainability of the electricity sector by reducing estimated billing, improving transparency in customer charges, strengthening revenue collection and supporting better service delivery.
She said it also advanced President Tinubu’s commitment to youth empowerment and job creation. “Applications for the first cohort open on July 4, 2026, and will remain open for two weeks. Eligibility criteria and programme details are available at pmi.com.ng or via pmi.naptin.gov.ng,” she said.
With three years of experience, Stephen, The PUNCH correspondent, has been covering Nigeria’s presidency, politics, security, immigration and trafficking in persons
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