BEDC, Elizade varsity sign MoU on human capacity development

Benin Electricity Distribution Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, to promote human capital development in the power sector.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, told journalists in Benin, Edo State, that the MoU was part of efforts of the Disco’s core investor, Vigeo Power Ltd, to train new and existing personnel of the firm on best technical practices for addressing the needs of electricity consumers in the country.
Osibodu according to a statement, explained that the five-year partnership would cover the cost of training facilities in the university and remuneration of staff drawn from both in-house academy and the private institution.
She said that the Disco had recruited about 200 graduates in relevant fields in electricity management who had received on-the-job and rotational training and were set to commence the classroom training in the university, which she said shared the vision of the company.
“This signing of a Memorandum of Agreement commits us to work together closely towards our common goal, which is grooming a crop of skilled workforce as a way of building capacity in the power sector.
“Each party will pursue numerous significant activities such as effective classroom trainings, fieldwork, physical activities and community development projects to mention a few,” she added.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Valentine Aletor, described the initiative as a timely intervention to address major challenges such as human capital deficit and corruption practice in the power sector.
Aletor said, “VIPL-EU joint initiative is to engender government-industry-university partnership in research and innovation for the projection of local initiatives, which would ultimately lead to the building of home-made alternative, indigenous technologies that are easily adaptable to solving the emerging technical and engineering problems that have bedevilled electricity generation and distribution in Nigeria.
He also noted that the partnership would serve as a major incentive to improve the university’s drive for global excellence in technological innovation, adding that the second phase of the programme would focus on the “production of light equipment and accessories to effect minor routine repairs within the power sector.”