The programme, which will train 5,000 certified meter installers, was officially flagged off on Thursday at the headquarters of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Abuja under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).
Verheijen described the PMI as the largest metering programme in Nigeria’s history, established to ensure electricity consumers are billed only for the power they actually consume.
She said the initiative would not only improve transparency in electricity billing but also inspire a new generation of skilled professionals capable of driving reforms in the sector.
Verheijen said following the Abuja launch, the Power Force training programme will be extended to centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
According to her, upon completion of the training, participants will receive certification from the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), qualifying them as professional meter installers in line with national and international safety and competence standards.
The launch also saw the unveiling of the first batch of successful applicants, who will undergo a three-week intensive programme combining classroom instruction with practical field training before deployment.
Also speaking, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, described the trainees as the future backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce, stressing that skilled technicians are critical to the success of the country’s electricity reforms.
“Behind every successful metering programme must stand thousands of competent, certified and dedicated technicians. The 5,000 young Nigerians being trained under this initiative will become the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce,” Tegbe said.
He added that the Power Force initiative goes beyond technology and infrastructure by creating jobs, building technical capacity and improving livelihoods for Nigerian youths.
The minister also commended the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) for withdrawing its court action against the meter deployment programme, noting that the decision had removed a major obstacle to the accelerated rollout of electricity meters nationwide.
The Chairman of the Presidential Metering Initiative Board and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said the initiative was designed not only to strengthen the power sector but also to equip young Nigerians with valuable technical skills.
According to Abdulrazaq, the programme presents an opportunity for state governments to support youth empowerment by expanding the initiative beyond its initial target of 5,000 trainees.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayo Olawande, said the programme aligns with his ministry’s “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative, describing it as a practical intervention that will create employment while supporting national development.
“This is not just the launch of a training programme; it is about creating jobs and opportunities for Nigerian youths to contribute to national development,” he said.
