The Federal Government has launched the PMI Power Force programme to train 5,000 youths as smart meter installers after receiving over 217,000 applications nationwide.
Abuja — The Federal Government on Thursday officially flagged off the Power Force programme, a national initiative under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) designed to train and certify 5,000 young Nigerians as smart meter installers.
The launch ceremony took place at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) headquarters in Abuja, drawing government officials, regulators, development partners, and stakeholders from across the power sector.
A Response to Overwhelming Demand
Speaking at the launch, the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), Olu Arowolo Verheijen, disclosed that the programme attracted more than 217,000 applications from young Nigerians for just 5,000 available slots, describing the overwhelming response as evidence of a generation eager to work if given the opportunity.
“That tells us something profound,” she said. “A generation that is ready to work… if given the opportunity.”
Verheijen described Power Force as more than a skills acquisition programme, saying it is an investment in people and the future of Nigeria’s electricity sector. She said the broader Presidential Metering Initiative, being implemented in partnership with the 36 state governments and the World Bank, will deploy more than seven million smart meters nationwide—the largest metering programme in the country’s history.
“No nation develops without capable people,” she said, adding that Power Force was created to build the skilled workforce required to deliver the nationwide metering rollout.
Jobs Beyond Training
The Director-General of NAPTIN, Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, confirmed that the programme will train and certify 5,000 youths, with an additional 5,000 expected to secure employment upon completion effectively creating pathways for 10,000 young Nigerians. He linked the initiative to the Federal Government’s One Youth, Two Skills programme, describing it as part of a broader push toward technical and vocational skills development for the country’s youth population.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said the initiative supports the government’s efforts to close Nigeria’s metering gap, reduce estimated billing, and build the technical workforce needed to support nationwide smart meter deployment.
Also speaking, Bureau of Public Enterprises Director-General Ayodeji Gbeleyi highlighted smart metering as central to ongoing reforms aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and revenue collection across Nigeria’s electricity sector.
What Comes Next
The first phase of Power Force begins in Abuja before expanding to all six geopolitical zones. Graduates will receive professional training through NAPTIN, certification through the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), and a direct pathway into employment with electricity distribution companies and meter providers. Officials say the programme is intended to accelerate the pace of the national metering rollout, improve billing accuracy for consumers, and reduce commercial losses across the sector, while giving thousands of young Nigerians a foothold in the country’s evolving energy economy.
