Tinubu Launches ‘Power Force’ Programme to Train 5,000 Youths for Smart Meter Jobs Nationwide

By Emmanuel Kwada

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled Power Force, a major youth empowerment and energy-sector initiative aimed at training 5,000 young Nigerians to support the nationwide rollout of smart electricity meters while creating thousands of employment opportunities across the country.

The programme, which will be implemented through the Presidential Metering Initiative in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, is expected to equip participants with technical skills in meter installation and maintenance, helping to address workforce shortages in Nigeria’s power sector.

Announcing the initiative on Thursday, Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative, Olu Verheijen, said the programme aligns with the Tinubu administration’s broader reforms aimed at improving electricity supply, enhancing transparency in billing, and strengthening the financial sustainability of the power sector.

According to her, the expansion of smart metering is critical to ending estimated billing, boosting consumer confidence, increasing revenue collection, and improving service delivery across the electricity value chain.

“The success of power sector reforms depends on both infrastructure and people,” Verheijen said, noting that Power Force is designed to create a pool of skilled young professionals capable of supporting Nigeria’s growing metering needs.

The first phase of the initiative will commence in Abuja later this month before being extended to the country’s six geopolitical zones. Participants selected for the programme will undergo intensive technical training facilitated by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, while certification and regulatory compliance will be overseen by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency.

Upon completion, successful trainees will be connected with employment opportunities through electricity distribution companies, meter manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders within the industry.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the initiative as a practical collaboration between the federal and state governments that would simultaneously tackle youth unemployment and improve electricity access nationwide.

He said Power Force represents a strategic investment in young Nigerians while strengthening the infrastructure needed to support economic growth across all states of the federation.

Also speaking, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe emphasized the importance of developing local expertise to drive transformation in the electricity sector.

“A stronger power sector begins with skilled people. Power Force invests in Nigerian talent to power our nation’s future,” he said.

For the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, the programme reflects the administration’s commitment to providing practical opportunities rather than temporary interventions.

“Youths want opportunities, not handouts. Power Force provides practical skills, recognised certification and a direct pathway to meaningful employment,” Olawande stated.

Industry experts have long identified inadequate metering as one of the major challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity sector. Millions of consumers remain on estimated billing, a situation that has generated disputes between electricity providers and customers.

Verheijen expressed optimism that the programme would accelerate progress in addressing the metering gap while restoring public trust in the sector.

“Metering restores trust. When customers pay only for what they use, revenues improve, investment follows and service delivery gets better. Power Force helps us scale that progress faster,” she said.

Applications for the first batch of trainees will open on July 4, 2026, and remain available for two weeks. The government expects the initiative to serve as both an employment-generation scheme and a catalyst for reforms aimed at delivering a more efficient and transparent electricity market.

The launch of Power Force marks another step in the Federal Government’s efforts to combine youth empowerment with critical infrastructure development, positioning young Nigerians at the centre of the country’s energy transformation agenda.